Welsh start-up firms are prestigious annual awards
THE best start-up firms in Wales have been revealed at an annual awards ceremony. Anglesey-based Felin Honeybees took the overall award at the Wales Start-Up Awards, which are now in their second year and were held at the Depot in Cardiff.
Founded last year by Katie Hayward, Felin Honeybees has successfully brought the concept of beekeeping into the mainstream through a series of initiatives aimed at educating and informing the general public and wider farming community about the important role bees play within the ecosystem.
Her efforts have garnered national media attention, with appearances on BBC Breakfast TV and Radio 5 Live.
As well as the overall award, Felin Honeybees also took the Green Start-Up of the Year and North Wales Start-Up of the Year titles.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, chairman of the judging panel, said: “Last year’s awards set a precedent that even the most optimistic of us on this year’s judging panel thought couldn’t be exceeded. But it was.
“The standard of entries received and the successes enjoyed by each one of this year’s winners and finalists is testament to the extraordinary achievements of Welsh entrepreneurs – entrepreneurship really is flourishing across all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country.”
“Having only started trading in June 2016, Felin Honeybees are deserving winners of the Wales StartUp of the Year Award.
“In just over a year, the company is the embodiment of how one person’s passion can drive and influence change,” added Prof JonesEvans.
Liz Brookes, of Grapevine Events and co-founder of the awards, said: “The awards have shown us yet again the importance of the start-up sector to the Welsh economy.
“We received entries from across Wales and each one of this year’s winners serves as a case study that other aspiring entrepreneurs can seek to emulate.”
The awards recognise those fledgling companies and individuals who have made a significant impact on the Welsh economy over the past three years.
NatWest, and its Entrepreneurial Spark start-up support programme, was the overall sponsor of the awards across 22 categories.
ALL THE WINNERS
Construction Start-Up of the Year (sponsored by Grapevine Event Management) TURVEC SOLUTIONS Creative Start-Up of the Year (sponsored by Bad Wolf ) BRAND CONTENT – joint winner. TRAMSHED TECH – joint winner. Digital Start-Up of the Year (sponsored by Circle IT) ONE TEAM LOGIC Financial and Professional Services Start-Up of the Year (sponsored by Hugh James IFA) PEDALCOVER INSURANCE Innovative Start-Up of the Year (sponsored