Enterprise award winners praised for innovative thinking

INNOVATIVE product design consultancy Plus Minus Design has won the the prestigious Sir Peter Thompson Enterprise Award.

Plus Minus Design is the brainchild of three Leeds graduates, Adam Robinson, Henry James and Tom Eales, and has been in business since September 2009.

The company works with businesses to transform the environmental and social impact of their products and services by providing innovative and creative design solutions.

The Leeds University award, which is supported by alumnus and serial entrepreneur Sir Peter Thompson, is given to the most promising entrepreneurs from the university and is worth £5,000 in prize money.

Enterprise Award winners were selected by their entrepreneurial promise and the scale of their potential impact on the UK’s economic, social or cultural prosperity.

Sir Peter said: “I’d like to congratulate Plus Minus and all our enterprising finalists on their success, which vividly demonstrates the contribution they are making to our economy, even in the most difficult of economic climates.”

Henry James of Plus Minus Design said the award meant a great deal to the firm.

“This means so much to us as a young company. Not just in how the award will allow us to grow, but in benefiting from the advice and guidance of an entrepreneur of Sir Peter’s stature,” he added.

Runner up was web and graphic design agency Creod, which was a former finalist at the Yorkshire Excellence in Business Awards.

Prof Richard Williams, pro-vice-chancellor for enterprise and knowledge transfer at Leeds University, said: “Awards like this are a great way of encouraging enterprise amongst students, encouraging them to work together and to link their skills and training directly to their future careers.

“I congratulate all our finalists and thank Sir Peter for his generosity and commitment.”