Meet the winners of the 2024 Scale-Up Awards
The winners of the 2024 Scale-Up Awards, powered by Business Leader, have been announced. The awards are a celebration of some of the UK’s most inspiring businesses, leaders and innovators, all of whom have made tremendous strides in their industries.
The awards honour those who have not only scaled up their businesses but have also pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, while also creating value and jobs, and driving innovation across the country.
Here are the winners.
Business Leader of the Year
Sean Ramsden
Sean Ramsden dived into the entrepreneurial world in 1995 when he took over the export division of his family’s business. Ramsden International is a wholesale exporter of British grocery brands, specialising in selling more than 25,000 products to customers worldwide.
From its humble beginnings serving niche ex-pat markets, the company has experienced remarkable growth, now supplying hundreds of retailers across over 130 countries, ranging from small specialist retailers to some of the world’s largest supermarket chains.
It employs almost 100 people in its head office in Grimsby and reprocessing centre in Scunthorpe, along with its sales offices in Singapore, UAE and New Zealand.
Ramsden guided the business through the turmoil brought on by Brexit. He navigated those challenges by establishing a European entity in Belgium, Ramsden Europe (REBV), to ensure that operations remained uninterrupted and that the company had a market presence on the continent. Continuous improvements and adaptations to regulatory changes have positioned Ramsden International to capitalise on the European market’s potential, leading to exceptional growth in 2023, with a soaring 44 per cent increase in the REBV business.
He also focused on partnerships and struck large deals with retail giants including Co-op, Waitrose and Nisa. These moves have proven to be a successful venture for the business, with the Co-op own-label sales growing by 30 per cent in 2023 and the collaboration with Waitrose predicted to bring £9m in sales in the next three years.
Customer Champion
Family Adventures Group
In 2019, husband-and-wife team Tom and Laura Filer launched Family Adventures Group after experiencing the typical frustrations many parents feel with traditional soft play venues.
When they started taking their 18-month-old daughter to local indoor play spaces, they saw a big gap in the market for clean, high-quality, fun and educational play environments that both kids and parents could enjoy. Determined to fill this need, they created Ocean Adventurers.
Since then, the company has grown quickly, now encompassing not only indoor play venues but also Little Adventures Nurseries, a nursery group. The company has experienced a tenfold increase in revenue in the past three years. The company’s ambitious goals attracted investment at the beginning of this year, putting them on a growth fast track to 36 nurseries and 10 leisure sites by 2027.
The company hires team members with high-end hospitality backgrounds so that customer service is engrained in what they do, as well as training multiple apprentices in hospitality qualifications. Customers have multiple touchpoints for feedback and communication ensuring a smooth customer service journey in and out of working hours.
Their efforts have been recognised with a Visit England Rose award. This prestigious honour given to only the top 1 per cent of indoor leisure attractions. Ocean Adventurers has won back-to-back TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2022 and 2023, putting it in the top 10 per cent of visitor destinations across the globe.
Diversity Champion
The Turmeric Co
The Turmeric Co. is a wellness brand dedicated to advancing health through natural, functional nutrition. Rooted in the values of quality, innovation and inclusivity, it has evolved from a family-owned venture into a leader in the functional health industry.
Cultural diversity is central to The Turmeric Co.’s identity. Its team comprises individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, a richness that enhances the workplace, fosters creativity, and strengthens connections with customers from all walks of life.
The company actively champions cultural diversity through inclusive policies and practices. By offering flexible working arrangements that respect cultural and religious needs and hosting regular cultural exchange events, the company cultivates an environment where diversity is embraced and celebrated.
Driven by its mission to empower individuals to lead healthier lives, it recognises that a diverse and inclusive workplace is vital to achieving this vision. More than just a business, The Turmeric Co. is a thriving community where cultures unite to make a meaningful impact on the world.
E-Commerce Business
Jenolite
Jenolite is Europe’s oldest rust removal and conversion brand.
Originally established in 1939, the brand began to lose its identity in the new digital age and was crying out for a new strategic direction.
Enter the father and son duo of Norman and Neil Wildon, who took over the company in 2013. The pair identified that the market was changing, with an increasing interest in upcycling amongst a younger demographic.
The first focus was to work on evolving the company’s traditional distribution model to a scalable e-commerce one. The company focused on Amazon due to its ability to drive brand awareness, along with opening up future opportunities for expansion in other countries. But the offering has morphed into an e-commerce-geared website that provides personal expert support. It has been optimised with heat-mapping software to ensure a more engaged website user experience.
This strategy has led to turnover increasing by more than 2,000 per cent between 2018 and 2023. What was a product range of six in 2018 has grown to over 400, with the introduction of complementary products such as paints, primers, sealers and polishes. Today, the company is run by Neil, who serves as its managing director and his son and sales & distribution manager Connor. They aim to take this family business through rapid expansion in the next five years, focused on new territories including Mexico, India, South Africa and Australia.
Employer Of The Year
Phoebus Software
Phoebus is a provider of agile technologies to the banking, lending and savings/deposits servicing sectors. The company has over 30 years’ experience providing operational efficiencies to organisations that vary in type and size.
It has proven that it takes the wellbeing of its employees seriously, with numerous incentives to keep its workforce bought into its vision. Along with quarterly team meals, it also runs family-inclusive social events, and long service and birthday rewards.
It also offers an annual bonus scheme and a holiday purchase scheme where colleagues can buy or sell days.
The company encourages recognition with monthly awards, where employees can nominate a colleague. After deliberation from a judging panel, a winner and runner-up are presented with £100 and a £25 lifestyle voucher respectively.
But the employee engagement goes deeper than this. All employees have a personal development plan and those who want to study further are supported through apprenticeship schemes. The company also offers two days of learning per year that employees can use as they wish, as well as mandatory training and technical training.
Mental health first-aiders are on standby for colleagues who require assistance and a menopause wellness policy is in place to encourage women to seek support and discuss concerns. Private medical insurance and £350 a year towards the wellbeing activity of choice for each employee are offered by the company. These measures – and more – are clearly paying off as its staff retention rate is 93 per cent and average employee tenure is 5.3 years.
ESG & Social Impact
Cleanology
Cleanology was founded in 1999 by Elisabeth Ponniah with one client and one cleaner as a small home business. Today, led by her son Dominic Ponniah, it has grown to a robust team of around 1,400 professionals.
It provides office and commercial cleaning services, property maintenance and support solutions across London and major cities in the UK and counts globally renowned brands and royal palaces among its clientele.
The company has been a leader in eco-friendly practices, introducing innovations like portion-controlled cleaning sachets and uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. These efforts save 46,800 litres of cleaning solution and recycle 62,400 bottles each year.
Cleanology operates its headquarters and fully electric fleet on 100 per cent renewable energy, reducing diesel consumption by 5,000 litres and cutting CO2 emissions by 13.5 tonnes annually. The company is committed to becoming net zero by 2035 and has achieved Planet Mark certification.
The company boasts a 94 per cent staff retention rate, well above the industry average of 79 per cent. Nearly all employees (99 per cent) earn the Real Living Wage and the workforce is highly diverse, with employees from 20 different countries. Women make up 40 per cent of the managerial roles, ensuring inclusive leadership throughout the company.
Family Business Of The Year
Jenolite
Jenolite is Europe’s oldest rust removal and conversion brand.
Originally established in 1939, the brand began to lose its identity in the new digital age and was crying out for a new strategic direction.
Enter the father and son duo of Norman and Neil Wildon, who took over the company in 2013. The pair identified that the market was changing, with an increasing interest in upcycling amongst a younger demographic.
The first focus was to work on evolving the company’s traditional distribution model to a scalable e-commerce one. The company focused on Amazon due to its ability to drive brand awareness, along with opening up future opportunities for expansion in other countries. But the offering has morphed into an e-commerce-geared website that provides personal expert support. It has been optimised with heat-mapping software to ensure a more engaged website user experience.
This strategy has led to turnover increasing by more than 2,000 per cent between 2018 and 2023. What was a product range of six in 2018 has grown to over 400, with the introduction of complementary products such as paints, primers, sealers and polishes. Today, the company is run by Neil, who serves as its managing director and his son and sales & distribution manager Connor. They aim to take this family business through rapid expansion in the next five years, focused on new territories including Mexico, India, South Africa and Australia.
International Business Of The Year
AIS
AIS is a commercial and industrial equipment supplier that is making waves in its sector.
The company designs, engineers, manufactures and installs a plethora of products for the energy, industrial, automotive, chemical and marine sectors.
It is headquartered in Gloucester, where it has three manufacturing facilities, but it also has facilities in Plymouth, Nottingham and Skelmersdale.
Targeted acquisitions and expansion into new territories are a keen focus for AIS, which acquired competitor CRP Subsea in November 2022. While experiencing some expected challenges post-acquisition, the synergy between the companies has made both more competitive.
AIS has numerous facilities and entities strategically placed around the world. Through a local presence in countries such as Brazil, the USA, Denmark and China, the company employs local personnel to allow more direct routes to market. Its model seems to be paying off with revenues in some countries up over 140 per cent.
Overall Scale Up Of The Year
Cleanology
Cleanology was founded in 1999 by Elisabeth Ponniah with one client and one cleaner as a small home business. Today, led by her son Dominic Ponniah, it has grown to a robust team of around 1,400 professionals.
It provides office and commercial cleaning services, property maintenance and support solutions across London and major cities in the UK and counts globally renowned brands and royal palaces among its clientele.
The company has been a leader in eco-friendly practices, introducing innovations like portion-controlled cleaning sachets and uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. These efforts save 46,800 litres of cleaning solution and recycle 62,400 bottles each year.
Cleanology operates its headquarters and fully electric fleet on 100 per cent renewable energy, reducing diesel consumption by 5,000 litres and cutting CO2 emissions by 13.5 tonnes annually. The company is committed to becoming net zero by 2035 and has achieved Planet Mark certification.
The company boasts a 94 per cent staff retention rate, well above the industry average of 79 per cent. Nearly all employees (99 per cent) earn the Real Living Wage and the workforce is highly diverse, with employees from 20 different countries. Women make up 40 per cent of the managerial roles, ensuring inclusive leadership throughout the company.
Scale-Up Disrupter
Bridgewater Home Care
Phil Eckersley founded Bridgewater Home Care in 2010 to provide exceptional, reliable in-home care. After personally experiencing poor-quality care for an elderly relative, Eckersley and his family were determined to create a service where quality and compassion came first.
Since then, Bridgewater Home Care has grown steadily. As a provider focused on the private market, it is dedicated to enhancing career opportunities for carers, continually improving quality standards and driving efficiencies within home care operations to benefit all involved.
After refining its business model for over a decade, the company launched its franchise opportunity in 2021. It sold five franchise locations in the first two years and has been a significant disruptor in the home care sector and the franchising sector.
The franchising side of the business has been built on the USP of being the only care franchise to offer the core operational systems included within the monthly service fee. One-on-one mentoring sessions with Eckersley is baked into the offering, along with unlimited support from the company’s national office to offer support with operations, regulatory compliance, marketing, training and recruitment.
Along with solid financial growth, the company has stood out with its employee engagement. It has 4.8 out of five stars as an employee on Indeed and impressive employee retention with a turnover rate of less than 10 per cent, compared to a national average of 50 per cent in the care sector.
Scale-Up Entrepreneur Of The Year
Joseph Valente
Trade Mastermind
Joseph Valente appeared on and won the BBC show The Apprentice. After selling his first business, he launched Trade Mastermind.
Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic, he created a model to overcome the challenges of a world without live events. Through his unwavering determination, the business expanded to a team of 45.
Within just four years, Trade Mastermind reached over £10m in sales by 2024 and provided training to more than 3,000 businesses.
The company has played a pivotal role in helping businesses scale to seven- and even eight-figure revenues, enabling six-figure exits, and achieving an average growth rate of 400 per cent.
His efforts have generated hundreds of millions in revenue for the construction sector, sparking a mini economic boom, creating over 1,000 new jobs and driving the purchase of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new materials.
Sustainable Scale-Up Of The Year
The Cheeky Panda
The Cheeky Panda provides eco-friendly alternatives to everyday essentials by using sustainable bamboo instead of traditional paper.
The first company in the UK to do this, its product range includes personal care, baby and beauty items and it is on a mission to build a widely accessible sustainable brand that helps lower carbon emissions. By offering these products, the company makes it easy for people to make small, environmentally friendly choices that have a big impact.
With sustainability at its core, the company’s products are now distributed in 30 countries. It sold 4.8 million products in 2023 and is estimated to have saved 450,000 trees. The company has moved the production of its bamboo baby and antibacterial wipes to the UK from China and updated them so they now have 30 per cent recycled content.
It also received a British Funding Award grant to support the technical innovation to create bamboo-based wipes for the first time in the UK and is expected to be producing its full wipes range in the UK by the end of 2024. It is a B Corp and ranked as the number one most sustainable brand by Which?, in an independent survey of more than 4,000 of its readers.
Technology Scale-Up Of The Year
Thrive
Thrive Learning is a learning technology company empowering more than 3 million users worldwide.
Since its launch in 2019, it has replaced hundreds of traditional learning management systems and content providers for over 370 global brands including Vodafone, The Ordinary and Matalan.
Its commitment to delivering the industry’s best customer experience is backed by a 98 per cent renewal rate.
The company’s vision for shaking up the industry has seen it become the only all-in-one learning platform that enables businesses to consolidate content, skills and comms to help their people learn faster. Its system uses AI to make personalised recommendations that connect your people to each other and create upskilling opportunities.
Additionally, AI is leveraged to save customers time creating content. Thrive’s built-in authoring tool lets people use simple chat prompts to auto-generate fresh and engaging content on any topic or work to digest lengthy documents, PDFs and guides. Learning management, user-generated content, upskilling and more form part of its core offering.
Thrive has grown its customer base by 36 per cent in the past 12 months, with almost a third of its revenue coming from customer referrals. One of the company’s customers has seen a 37 per cent reduction in average cost per hour due to its services.
The #SBS Small Business Award
Dorset Tech
Dorset Tech is a web design agency based in Shaftesbury. Although it used to be part of a larger group, the company was spun out and relaunched as its own entity in June 2023. It has already grown to a team of 19 and achieved impressive turnover figures despite launching with only £10,000 in start-up capital.
The company has secured investment for a rebrand and to implement new automations, which allows it to host around 60 times the number of sites per technician.
Refreshed processes allow the company to handle between 50 and 70 active projects at a time, a marked improvement from the between five and eight it could do before.
Dorset Tech is committed to giving back to the local community. It has implemented initiatives that include heavily discounted rates for start-ups, free websites or subsidies for charities, STEM sessions for local children and publishing a free local magazine that’s distributed to 1,200 homes.
The company remains a proud champion of the #SBS (Small Business Sunday) community, an initiative set up by serial entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. It was announced as a winner in 2018 but has continued to highlight the products and services of fellow winners and even offer them discounts on its services.
