2023 Finalists

#SkillUP Category Finalists

Bela Banaskiewicz Nurture and Heal

Nature and Heal supports individuals from local communities to address their health concerns and chronic conditions (such as diabetes, obesity, digestive skin and mental health issues) as well as changing their unwanted habits by providing bespoke and holistic health solutions based on preventative approach and lifestyle medicine.

Lisa Michelle Zuccaroli Wallsend Well-Being Centre

Lisa has an ambitious passion and vision to revive Wallsend Hall, a National Heritage Grade II Listed Building to provide a community space offering a range of holistic/medicinal services and introduce creative well-being, harm reduction, education, and employment opportunities, within the community.

Mohammad Alansary VT Treatment

VT Treatment is a patented idea for the treating of skin conditions such as vitiligo, leukoderma and post-burn leukoderma. VT Treatment has natural components, is not tested on animals and is registered as natural treatment that doesn’t require a prescription.

Mark Breillat Travel Buddy NCL

Travel Buddy NCL is a new travel agent company that offers bespoke package holidays, staycations, and away day packages. ATOL and ABTA protected, Travel Buddy NCL offers affordable, convenient, flexible and a personal approach to suit all your holiday needs.

Sarah Mills The Art of Winning

The Art of Winning is a social impact enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve personal and global change through small, daily steps. The platform provides a variety of resources, including free access to support, encouragement, and empowerment for developing a healthy mindset, lifestyle, and self-care. 

Chawada Matiwaza Hair Emporium

Hair Emporium will supply quality wigs, hair extensions, hair transplants and hair products to individuals or hospitals to support transgender clients, clients with cancer that are undergoing treatment and those with alopecia.  

Margo-Rita Kuuya Trajecto-Rising

Trajecto-Rising is a business that will provide mental wellness care and training to women and young people who have been struggling to recover from depression, anxiety and low self esteem.  

Paul Harman PHX Transit

PHX Transit is a local parcel delivery and collection service with an ethical and personal approach. Using an app to enable customers to track who is taking their parcels, PHX Transit offers delivery at home or work.

Chrissy Huttly People's Health Alliance

People's Health Alliance, North Shields, is a community hub for any person who needs support with their health and wellbeing, will be accessible to all to educate, empower and support people on their healing journey to health and wellness.

Matthew Forster Northumberland Prints

Northumberland Prints is a locally based business using ethically sourced t-shirts and products aimed at both the personal and corporate market.

Moses Igiehon FitByMiggy

FitByMiggy provides a wide variety of fitness products including resistance bands, workout mats, dumbbells, yoga blocks, jump ropes and equipment for those fitness enthusiasts who want to work out in their own homes

#StartUP Category Finalists

Aled Evans Our Local Travel

Our Local Tour is a tour operator working with local travel specialists all over the world, offering unique and authentic travel experiences.

Donna Beattie Wild Roses Theatre Group

Wild Roses Theatre Group is a North Tyneside based drama group for performing artists and the local community which identifies the needs and social issues within the communities and develops a solution of impact through drama and performance

Melissa Grewar The Spiritual Engineer

Melissa Grewar The Spiritual Engineer offers guidance to release, rebuild and maintain new pathways using creative strategies to overcome any new challenges with profound success enabling newfound freedom to support people to become the successful and inspirational individuals they feel they are truly meant to be

Beth Holloway & Leo Thompson Local Energy Systems

Local Energy Systems implements community energy methods to build sustainable energy systems that benefit organisations, local communities, and future generations

Rachel Summerson LIFE Holistic Therapies

LIFE Holistic Therapies provides natural and complementary therapies to help reduce stress, tension and aid relaxation

Joseph Bennett Knorf

Knorf provides bespoke furniture and interior solutions with a focus on the user at all stages of the design process; from initial idea generation to delivering finished products.

Dan Holmes Kultivar Tea

Kultivar is an online/ pop-up tea business that sells ethically sourced teas from around the world and provides mindful and ceremonial brewing techniques to its customers through in-person and online workshops.

Melody Unity Sakala-Makore Melexim Group

Melexim Group specialises in trading, financing of physical and energy commodities to provide innovative solutions and a focused approach in a wide range of sectors

Catherine Beattie All Caked Up Ltd

All Caked Up is a bespoke cake making business with a busy cafe providing home made daily supply of cakes and sweet treats. With a corporate and private party service, All Caked Up can provide personalised and bespoke cakes for all occasions

Lisa Cryer BlueJay Wellness CIC

BlueJay Wellness CIC delivers fun, interactive workshops in schools and organisations to empower people to improve their mental and physical wellbeing for life through yoga, mindfulness and science of the human body.

Jennifer Ibe Holding Hands NE

Holding Hands NE is a befriending services to families and individuals who are going through emotional or mental health challenges due to relationship breakdown, bereavement, isolation, ill health etc

Sandra Zhylinska Sandra's Cakes

Sandra's Cakes is a business that offers a range of unique and different desserts, macaroons and sweet pies. Originally from Ukraine, Sandra's Cakes provides a bespoke and personal service to all your cake needs including cultural desserts and sweet treats.

Jack Wheldon Trusted People.com

Trusted Peple.com platform enables those looking for work to create a detailed profile which highlights skills and work experience while also employing an extensive database of workers filtering by, location skillset and availability.

Elizabeth Woodcock Mirror Image Fitness

Mirror Image Fitness provides a personal trainer service that helps people achieve their fitness goals whether it is to lose weight, gain muscle or improve their general health. Offering both face to face and online personal training, Mirror Image Fitness addresses many mental health and health conditions through supported fitness plans.

Caden Elliott AyeDo Films

AyeDo Films is an independent video production outfit specialising in weddings. Using expert skills in recording, editing and producing exceptional wedding day videos for clients of their special day, AyeDo Films capture those unforgettable wedding day moments on film.

#ScaleUP Category Finalists

Daniel Reed & Sam Chapman LiveYou

 LiveYou provides a bespoke service to help disabled people through the whole process of creating amazing teams of PAs to become economically active, lead fulfilling social lives, and be empowered to achieve their goals in life.

Nathan Marr & Joe Hilton Student Semester Planner

Semester Student Planner creates tailor made personal growth and wellbeing planners to help students and professionals unlock their full potential. Designed to help students at University manage stress and combat pressure on mental health, the planner guides students to set realistic goals, take daily action and exceed their greatest dreams.

Ian Brown Chestnut Bio

Chestnut Bio is an innovative business that is leading the way in creating a range of new formulations that can replace fossil produced plastics with plant based ones. From tree protection tubes to strimmer filament and plug covers to cable ties, Chestnut Bio has the ability to replace the majority of everyday plastic items with a plant based solution.

Nicci Rowlands PilatEASE UK

PilatEASE UK is a pilates studio specialising in Reformer Pilates to help people reduce pain, move better and help people get fitter in their bodies. Through attending a class or a 1-2-1 session, individuals can experience the power of movement and its effect on reducing pain.

James Staniforth Sustainable Business Solutions

Sustainable Business Solutions is  a sustainable business service that provides a structured Net-Zero Programme enabling business to set credible net-zero strategy, aligned to internationally recognised standards, The GHG Protocol and the UN Race to Zero Campaign.

Declan Murphy Murphy Stays Ltd

Murphy Stays is a business that provides short term high-quality, furnished and self-catering accommodation for professionals and families who are looking for that home from home experience.

Josie Ellis Iris Interiors

Iris Interiors, a a luxury residential interior design company based in Corbridge, Northumberland. Josie and the talented team work on projects across the UK, specialising in creating modern, luxury homes with a unique style and timeless designs that encompass practicality and sustainability.

Emma McQuade Turtle Childcare Ltd

Turtle Childcare Ltd is a business that provides quality childcare to early years children about why it is important to create a healthy relationship with food and physical exercise

Rob Bedford Juiced

Juiced is a creative agency based in the heart of Middlesbrough that specialises in brand development, bespoke illustration and design for merchandising to help businesses move forward.

Mariya Lish InHouse Type

InHouse Type is a creative business providing a bespoke consultation and design service to individuals, organisations and companies who want to stand out from the crowd with their unique style. Mariya is an expert at creating personalised fonts for all purposes in an ethical and sustainable way.

Nicola Jayne Little & Laura Forsyth Celebrate Difference Ltd

Celebrating Difference Ltd is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting people with ADHD thrive through working with clients to gain the Access to Work grants which all employed and self-employed neurodivergent adults are entitled to and provide monthly training and support, as well as individual mentoring.

Want to see more? Checkout 2022's finalists

2022 saw over 40 early stage founders pitch their businesses to earn the top spots. To see a full list, click the button below.

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