In May 2025 Woolcool® was listed as one of The Times newspaper’s Best Places to Work. The Stone-based company, founded by University of Staffs Alumni Angela Morris, was named Team of the Year at University of Staffordshire Business Awards, presented by category sponsor Plinkfizz.

Founded in a bedroom just before the UK went into its first lockdown, tech company Next2IT now has a £3.5 million annual turnover and 14 staff. It was highly commended in the Small Business of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

.Stoke City Foundation joined with Stroke Association to set up a group for stroke survivors and families. Stoke City Foundation – Stroke Wellbeing and Peer Support Group offers a safe and welcoming space where survivors can connect and support one another yourheroesawards.co.uk/community-grou…

From a start-up team of 12 four years ago Comp Door now has more than 95 staff and a £22Million turnover. The Newcastle-under-Lyme company has grown its turnover from £14 million in 2024. It was highly commended in the Business of the Year category at University of Staffordshire Business Awards

.Staffs Alumni Steve Holmes founded Midlands Power Networks in 2004 to provide support in the high voltage electrical industry. They work across the UK from a base in Stoke-on-Trent and were Highly Commended in the Innovation Award category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

A University of Staffordshire student is among the winners of a national yacht design competition. He is nominated in the Future Star category of Your Heroes Awards yourheroesawards.co.uk/future-star-no…

An academic professional based at University of Staffordshire is helping military learners to transform their lives. Dr Karen Castle is nominated for Your Heroes Awards yourheroesawards.co.uk/inspiration-in…

Claire Kerry’s own experiences after being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia have led her to help others and in particular to educate employers to ensure the right support is offered in the workplace. She is nominated for Your Heroes Awards yourheroesawards.co.uk/inspiration-in…

Founded by Staffs Alumni Ben and Michael Dyer in 2013 and initially based in a rented office on campus, The Inspirational Learning Group has positively impacted more than 700,000 students. It was highly commended in the Business in the Community category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

.Port Vale Foundation is harnessing the power of Port Vale Football Club to change thousands of lives. Over the past 12 months the charity has reached almost 6,000 people from Stoke-on-Trent with direct contact through one of its many community-based programmes. yourheroesawards.co.uk/civic-pride-no…

.British Ceramics Biennial is making change through clay. BCB delivers a year-round programme responding to community needs that feeds into the UK’s largest festival of contemporary ceramics. BCB was highly commended in the Business in the Community category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

.in2health & wellbeing CIC is helping to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged young people in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. It was co-founded in 2021 by Staffs Alumni Ben Gibson as part of the University of Staffordshire Be-Inspired programme. yourheroesawards.co.uk/community-grou…

.Port Vale Foundation’s Community Advisory Group includes members of the South Asian community. 17% of the population in a 2km radius of Vale Park are from the South Asian community but before the group fewer than 2% were engaged in activity with the club yourheroesawards.co.uk/community-grou…

.Stoke Creates is Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural compact which centres on bringing together communities and organisations. Stoke Creates was highly commended in the Team of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards, sponsored by Plinkfizz

Tina Allen, Course Director of Apprenticeships and Professional Programmes at University of Staffordshire , has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards yourheroesawards.co.uk/inspiration-in…

Good to see University of Staffordshire having such a visible presence at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s Let’s Do Business Expo at Uttoxeter Racecourse today. Great work from Jordan Everall, Justin Pover, Daniel Williamson, Sam Jarvis, Jon Horton and teams 👏

🧵University of Staffordshire was proud to sponsor this evening’s Love N-U-L Awards, celebrating business excellence in Newcastle-under-Lyme, organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme. The University’s Amanda Payne presented the Visitor Attraction of the Year Award to Brampton Museum.

What began as a project for Ellina Pollitt during her time as a University of Staffordshire student has turned into an internationally-recognised jewellery brand. She was highly commended in the Alumni Business Person of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

.Staffs Alumni Mark Pennington’s focus on cybersecurity & AI-driven innovation has positioned EPX Technical Services, that he co-founded, into a trusted IT partner for firms across the UK & beyond. He was highly commended in the Entrepreneur category of University of Staffordshire Biz Awards.

From five staff and a £285,628 turnover in its first year, the QUARTER at Potbank has grown to employ 45 people and have a projected £2 million turnover. It was highly commended in the High Street impact category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent BID.