Vote for your North West Innovator 2013

THREE fast-growing SMEs blazing a trail in the mobile apps, online recruitment and biotech sectors are going head to head for the coveted title of North West Innovator 2013.

Apposing, Euprotec and Hiring Hub are the three shortlisted businesses in the hotly-contested Innovator category at TheBusinessDesk.com’s annual North West Business Masters awards, which will be announced on April 25 at the Lowry Hotel.

At the awards lunch, the three finalists, will be interviewed live before the audience to showcase their achievements, as part of the Masters’ unique format.

Based in Liverpool Apposing was founded four years ago by managing director Dave Brown, and in this time built relationships with major bluechip organisations including Carphone Warehouse and Unilever, as well as retailer CSL and food business Nando’s.

Last year the studio developed a ‘Bill Angel’ app for Carphone Warehouse to help consumers stop exceeding their monthly mobile phone tariffs. The  app was a first for the sector and to date been downloaded by more than 150,000 people.

In 2011 it developed an augmented reality app for CSL, allowing users to to view sofas in the showroom as if they were in their own home.

To ensure Apposing remains at the cutting-edge of the sector, it has set up a ‘futures department’, where new ideas are developed.

A further significant strategic move came in February as the firm acquired London app company Swipe & Tap, which will widen its creative output and industry expertise.

Manchester Science Park-based Euprotec provides contract research services to companies involved in the discovery and development of new drugs to treat infection, respiratory diseases and allergy.

It uses its specialist biology platform to accelerate the discovery and development of breakthrough treatments.

One area of focus is anti-microbial resistance – an increasingly growing concern for clinicians where current antibiotics may soon fail to treat even the simplest infections.

By working collaboratively with some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and public sectors, Euprotec’s team has had a significant  on the discovery and development of new antibiotics and antifungal agents.

It uses its specialist biology platform to accelerate the discovery and development of breakthrough treatments.

Hiring-Hub.com is a disruptive Manchester-based business which uses technology to empower employers in their relationship with recruitment agencies.

Led by young entrepreneurs Sara Jones and Simon Swan, Hiring-Hub is  a secure online environment allowing users to trade with approved recruiters under a single set of transparent terms and conditions. The system allows employers to set the placement fee they are comfortable of paying.

Hiring-Hub describes its system as “upside down recruitment”, giving the employer flexibility and control of cost.

In December 2012 it secured a six-figure investment to drive future growth after selling a 40% stake in the business to Yorkshire-based investment firm John Laithwaite Partners.

Voting is now closed.