Welcome to Breaking the Mould

We’re delighted to welcome you to the 2023 Breaking the Mould Awards! The evening promises to leave behind the traditional awards ceremony format, and celebrate the creativity and collaborative spirit of the area’s business community.

We will be sharing updates across our LinkedIn and Twitter channels before, during and after the event, so please join in the conversation using the hashtag #KeeleBTMawards.

Running order

Please note the following times are approximate and are subject to change.

6.00pm - Arrival
Drinks reception with locally-sourced food and drink.

6.50pm - Take your seats
The ceremony is about to begin!

7.00pm - Awards ceremony
Hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky, the winners are announced across the 10 categories.

9.10pm - Networking
Accompanied by drinks and sweet treats.

Your

Breaking the Mould 2023 finalists

Congratulations to all our finalists - we wish you the best of luck on the night!

Health & Wellbeing Award

Award for the most innovative new healthcare product, service or process that has or will have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of the delivery of healthcare and/or wellbeing, improve the effectiveness, safety or experience of patients, healthcare professionals and/or staff in the workplace and benefit the regional economy.

Winner:
Apnea Tech Ltd (in collaboration with Keele's School of Computer Science and Mathematics)

Finalists:

  • Apnea Tech Ltd (in collaboration with Keele's School of Computer Science and Mathematics)
  • Dynastat Systems Ltd
  • Expert Citizens CIC
  • Healthcare Communication Matters

Sponsored by Thea Pharmaceuticals

Thea Pharmaceuticals logo

Sustainable Futures Award

Award for the most innovative new sustainable and/or low carbon product, service or process that has or will have a substantial impact on carbon emissions, materials circularity and/or the protection of biodiversity. The innovation should be economically and financially sustainable and benefit the regional economy.

Winner: 
Velorim Ltd

Finalists:

  • EGO Technology Ltd
  • Noreus
  • TMT First
  • Velorim Ltd

Sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council logo

Cultivating Talent Award

Award for the new or established business, enterprise or social enterprise that has provided the best student placement experience. This should have helped to improve the skills and attributes gained from their degree, enabled them to apply subject knowledge and theory to real-world practice, explore career options and significantly improved their chances of getting a graduate job.

Winner:
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Finalists:

  • Healthcare Communication Matters
  • Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
  • Philip Astley Projects CIC
  • Ruff & Ruby Youth Charity
  • VUIT.Online

Sponsored by We Are Staffordshire

We Are Staffordshire logo

Social Inclusion Award

Award for the most innovative new product, service or process that has or will have a substantial impact on social inclusion. For example, this could be an improvement in opportunity, education, services provision, life or work experience of disadvantaged minorities or communities. The innovation should be economically and financially sustainable and could tackle an issues of inequality on a local, national or global scale.

Winner:
Expert Citizens CIC

 

Finalists:

  • Expert Citizens CIC
  • T&J Scents
  • Writers for Disability

Sponsored by Synectics Solutions

Synectics Solutions

Digital Futures Award

This category recognises businesses and other organisations at the forefront of innovation in digital technologies encompassing development and application. The judging panel will be looking for a strong understanding of implications of digital technologies for users, communities and society, and leadership in apply this to product and service development.

Winner: 
VUIT.Online

Finalists:

  • Hixon Group
  • TMT First
  • VUIT.Online

Sponsored by Concentric Solutions

Concentric Solutions logo

Going for Growth Award

This award recognises the achievements of partners driving business growth, scaling up and creating high value job opportunities for the area.

Winner:
TMT First

Finalists:

  • Concentric Solutions (Highly Commended) 
  • Robust UK
  • TMT First
  • VUIT.Online
  • WordUnited Ltd

Sponsored by EQUANS

EQUANS logo

Entrepreneurial Student of the Year Award

An award for a Keele student or recent graduate in any discipline demonstrating promising entrepreneurial skills. This could be in a variety of contexts, including their own enterprise, curriculum-based or placement-based activities. 

Please note: applications are not required for this award, as the shortlist and overall winner will be decided by the panel of judges.

Winner: 
Earth Stories Film Festival

Finalists:

  • Earth Stories Film Festival
  • James Deaville
  • Lauma Putane

Sponsored by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce logo

Leading Innovation Award

An award for the individual demonstrating outstanding leadership of business innovation. This could be by taking their company or organisation through a comprehensive transformation process to enable product and service development, or leading a particular aspect of innovation such as manufacturing processes, commercial development, or leadership on skills or technical aspects of innovation.

Please note: applications are not required for this award, as the shortlist and overall winner will be decided by the panel of judges.

Winner:
River Canal Rescue

Finalists:

  • Future Developments
  • Hygan Products Ltd
  • International Energy Crops
  • ProtectaPet
  • River Canal Rescue
  • Semantics 21

Sponsored by Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire County Council logo

Keele University Science and Innovation Park Company of the Year Award

Keele University is proud to host more 50 amazing businesses across its Science and Innovation Park. This award recognises those who have achieved significant milestones, growth and/or development across the past 12 months.

Please note: applications are not required for this award, as the shortlist and overall winner will be decided by the panel of judges.

Winner:
SH:24

Runner up: Socially Grown 

 

Finalists:

  • EM Resolutions
  • SH:24
  • Socially Grown
  • Thea Pharma

Sponsored by Biocomposites

Biocomposites logo

Collaboration of the Year Award

Award for the most productive Keele University-Enterprise collaboration. This should have demonstrably brought together the different contributions of academia and enterprise, in an innovative and impactful project that has the potential to deliver benefits to the region, nation or globally. The winner will be poised to thrive in the coming years and be resilient to the challenges of climate change, social inclusion, growing healthcare needs and rapid technological change. An ambassador for the University, our region and the future.

Please note: applications are not required for this award, as the shortlist and overall winner will be decided by the panel of judges.

Winner:
TMT First

Finalists:

  • Concentric Solutions
  • Expert Citizens CIC
  • Nurture CIC (part of Mondrem Group)
  • TMT First

Sponsored by Charles River

Charles River logo

Logos for Charles River and Biocomposites.  (Charles River is the Event Sponsor; Biocomposites is a Gold sponsor) Logos of our Silver sponsors: Thea Pharmaceuticals, EQUANS, Synectics Solutions, Staffordshire County Council, Concentric Solutions, We Are Staffordshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

Photography and filming

Please note that photographers will be present to capture the event, whilst videographers will also be filming throughout.

If you do not wish to be included in any photographs or video, whether incidental or otherwise, please make a member of the team aware on your arrival at the event.