Five innovative Bristol firms that have spun out of the city’s universities are in the running for Lloyds TSB’s Enterprise Awards.
The firms – environmental festival sanitation business Festival Loo, design consultancy iM Service Design, creative agency Interactive Places, psychology training company and a self-help publications house Mindsport, and The Triathlon Shop – are among 10 businesses challenging in the regional heat of the awards later today.
The awards aim to find Britain’s best student and graduate entrepreneurs in two categories – Best Start-Up, awarded to a business in its early stages, and Best Enterprise, awarded to the business judged to show real potential to grow over the next five years.
The best start-ups in the regional heats win £1,000 each plus two years’ mentoring from senior Lloyds Banking Group representatives, with the best enterprises receiving £5,000 each plus two years’ mentoring from senior Lloyds Banking Group representatives
The national best start-up gets £10,000 and the best enterprise £50,000 with both receiving two years’ mentoring, a business session with a Lloyds Banking Group executive and free legal advice
Festival Loo began last year but its directors have worked together behind the scenes at various events and festivals. Their clean, non-smelling compost loos are now features at some of the UK’s best-known festivals.
Launched in 2009, iMSD works with public and private sector clients to create services with mutual benefits for both service provider and customer.
Interactive Places creates location-specific experiences, bringing places to life in unique and unexpected ways, including using phone apps and sound/light installations. Locations can be heritage sites, museums and galleries, cities or the countryside.
Mindsport has a track record of directly improving performance in private, public, and third-sector organisations.
The Triathlon Shop is Bristol’s only specialist Triathlon centre and online store and has a full range of swimming, cycling and running kit.
Lloyds TSB Commercial area director Martin Racher said: “We have been so impressed with the calibre of the entries we have seen since the awards opened and look forward to meeting the finalists at the next stage.
“Having seen the diversity and talent amongst the businesses which applied for the Enterprise Awards, Lloyds TSB is more determined than ever to make sure that we are doing all we can to support young enterprise across England, Wales and Scotland.
“We understand how difficult it can be to get a fledgling business off the ground, and we’re delighted to be able to offer recognition to those who have achieved this. We hope that by offering a cash injection as well as a mentoring programme, we will be able to nurture the talent coming out of the UK’s universities to make the most of their varied offerings.”
Today’s regional final takes place in the University of Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building.
