Merseyside Innovation Awards Winners Announced

A contract research organisation and centre of excellence in biofilm and microbiology testing have won this year’s coveted Merseyside Innovation Awards (MIA), which O’Connors are a proud sponsor of.

Since 1996, the MIA have recognised and rewarded companies and individuals in Merseyside who use creativity to fuel growth and profitability. They are designed to help them turn great ideas into great businesses and contribute towards the region’s economic development.

Liverpool-based 5D Health Protection won first prize and received £10,000 cash. Judges commended the company’s innovation, research and development capabilities.

Founded in 2015, it was established to address a major global customer and medical need in the area of biofilm testing. Since then, it has become internationally renowned for working with industry, academia, public health bodies and healthcare professionals for protecting people, products and ideas from the detrimental effects of biofilms and microorganisms.

Professor Steven Percival, chief executive 5D Health Protection Group, said: “It is a true honour to receive this award tonight in recognition of our dedicated work. I would also like to congratulate the other finalists who showed a high calibre of innovation in their respective fields.”

Brian McCann, MIA founder and partner of Mitchell Charlesworth Chartered Accountants, added: “Their work in providing ground-breaking innovation, research and development is paramount in the protection of people from the detrimental effects of biofilms and microorganisms. They displayed true innovation in their efforts to attack biofilm control on all fronts during their presentation, making them a very deserving winner.

“The high level display of innovative projects by the three finalists was outstanding and made choosing a winner a challenge. The quality and calibre of innovation in Merseyside gets stronger and stronger each year and we can’t wait to see what 2019 brings.”

Runner-up finalists included Blinx and Oblige Global.

Fleetsolve, the Wirral-based renewable power specialist, has also won the Merseyside Innovation Prestige Award.

Introduced in 2016, the prize recognises businesses with a turnover of between £1m and £25m who are investing in innovation and employment in Merseyside, on a larger scale than the main Merseyside Innovation Award contenders.

Fleetsolve uses a combination of biofuel and biowaste to provide sustainable electricity. Its combined heat and power units (CHP) help clients meet their low carbon obligations and renewable energy CSR requirements.

Chief executive Keith O’Connor said: “I am really proud to have been chosen as the 2018 Prestige Winner, amongst so many stand-out businesses doing great things in Merseyside. We have come such a long way since starting out as a husband and wife team 16 years ago, and to grow the business to this scale is testament to our hard working team and expertise in our sector; an absolute dream come true.”

McCann added: “Congratulations to Fleetsolve. They truly demonstrate an innovative approach to powering some of the country’s most sustainable building projects and are most deserving of the Prestige Prize.”

John Spofforth, Director at O’Connors said: “As a firm O’Connors have always been committed to supporting local businesses through all stages of growth so we are very proud of our association with MIA and the valuable recognition and rewards given to home grown talent in innovation which is helping to drive our local economy.”