Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing shortlisted for National StartUp Awards

Preston-based Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing has been named one of the most exciting new businesses in the region after being shortlisted as part of a brand new awards programme.

The StartUp Awards National Series has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.

There was stiff competition with over 2,500 applications received in response to the Startup Awards National Series’ first-ever call for entries.

Lee Chambers, founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing said: “It’s been a real journey building Essentialise over these past two years. Through the ups and downs we’ve had amazing support from clients, collaborators and the wider business community. Making the shortlist for the inaugural awards is all the sweeter because this is the only year we would be eligible, as we move out of our startup phase.

"To be shortlisted alongside trailblazing companies such as Accountants247 and Manhattan Partners is a proud moment. Hopefully, we can be winners on the night, but more than anything the recognition is heartwarming and being able to celebrate with other startups will be just the tonic, as they share all the challenges we’ve faced too!"

Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the UK who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service. Co-founded by the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “New firms are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation. Since 2016, the Wales StartUp Awards have celebrated this amazing annual contribution to our economy by entrepreneurs and the impact they have on communities across the nation.

“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal startups we’ve heard from since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desires to take their career in a new direction and set up a business against the odds, we felt it was the right time to take the programme nationwide. We’ve been blown away by the standard of entries in this first year and truly look forward to crowning the winners in June.”

The news of the shortlisting comes in the same week as Essentialise won the Small Business Sunday selection by Theo Paphitis.

Essentialise were one of only three Lancashire-based companies to make the finals, and they will be aiming to bring the Startup Award back to the red rose county.