Team of the Year
Category criteria
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This category is open to teams of employees working within any sector and within any size of business.
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The team could form a department with a business or, within smaller organisations, perhaps the entire workforce could be classed as the team.
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The team will have proven success in encouraging one another’s strengths and leveraging these to achieve results.
EPX Technical Services
Team of the Year entrant
EPX Technical Services is an IT support provider working closely with growing UK businesses to ensure their technology aligns with their objectives. Founded in 2005 by two passionate IT professionals, it has grown over the past two decades to employ 28 staff members and have a projected turnover of £2.6 million for 2025.
The Stafford-based company specialises in providing tailored IT solutions, cybersecurity and communication services, ensuring businesses operate efficiently, securely and with the ability to work seamlessly from anywhere.
With a strong focus on customer service and innovation, EPX has built a reputation for delivering high-quality IT support, helping clients improve efficiency, reduce costs and protect themselves from cyber threats.
CEO Dan Ellis is a vocal advocate for green IT initiatives and has pioneered the development of PC Powersave, an energy-saving solution that optimises power consumption across IT infrastructures. The software intelligently manages power usage, reducing energy costs and extending the lifespan of IT equipment. Initially tested within EPX, this solution is now being rolled out to businesses across the globe, helping them to reduce their environmental impact.
Managing Director Mark Pennington recently launched Insights, a system designed to streamline IT support for engineers. By using AI to reduce the time spent on individual IT tickets, the system enhances efficiency and allows engineers to focus on more complex tasks.
Mark Pennington said: “Our success as a business is a direct result of the incredible people who make up EPX. It is their dedication, passion and teamwork that have propelled us forward.
“More than just colleagues, we are a close-knit team that values collaboration, mutual support and continuous development.
“At the heart of EPX is a shared belief that success in our business comes not from individual achievements but from how well we work together, encourage one another’s strengths and align as one team to deliver the best possible service to our clients.”
“We believe that teamwork is about more than just working together - it’s about supporting, developing and inspiring one another to be the best we can be.
“From our values-led culture and structured development programmes to our focus on wellbeing and community impact, we have created an environment where every individual is valued, every voice is heard and every achievement is celebrated as a team.”
JLC Interiors Ltd
Team of the Year entrant
JLC Interiors Limited’s service is so bespoke its range is virtually limitless and it can work with rooms of any shape and size.
The Hednesford-based company designs, manufactures and fits bespoke fitted furniture for every room in the home including lounge units, media wall units, wardrobes, kitchens, home offices, understairs units and entertainment spaces.
Founded by husband and wife team Libby and John Chapman in January 2018, the business now has five staff working across manufacturing and the office.
John Chapman has been working in the furniture industry since his teens so it was a natural progression to start his own business.
JLC Interiors’s USP is that unlike some fitted furniture companies it isn’t limited by standard sizes. Everything created can be made bespoke to fit unique spaces and customer tastes.
Libby said: “We are a small family-owned business. There are a total of five people who work in both the factory and the office. We have deliberately remained small so that we can offer a service as good as our product.
“Every member of the team is committed, focussed and a team player. The team as a whole support each other and the success of the business is a testament to all of them.”
JLC Interiors Limited has entered the Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Iron Maidens Commercial Laundry
Team of the Year entrant
Iron Maidens Commercial Laundry Ltd aims to transform the commercial laundry industry with its strong focus on sustainability through innovation.
Operating in a sector traditionally associated with high energy and water consumption, the Newcastle-under-Lyme company has introduced cutting-edge technologies and in-house engineered solutions to reduce waste, conserve resources and support the hospitality industry’s journey towards net zero.
Iron Maidens Commercial Laundry has been serving the hospitality industry across Staffordshire, Cheshire and beyond for more than a decade. It works with hotels, restaurants and venues to provide a an eco-conscious linen solution.
What sets Iron Maidens apart is its close-knit team, where employees are more like family than colleagues. Many team members have been with the company for years, fostering a culture of trust, expertise and shared commitment to delivering exceptional service.
This strong team ethos has enabled Iron Maidens to continuously innovate, as employees are empowered to bring fresh ideas to the table and play an active role in shaping the company’s future.
Through a combination of energy-efficient equipment, bespoke chemical dosing systems and waste-reducing initiatives, the company is redefining industry standards and pioneering innovation in commercial laundry.
Innovations include investing in energy-efficient technology and the development of a bespoke, in-house-designed dosing system.
The company has moved to reusable and recyclable packaging with a zero-waste approach including eliminating the need for single-use plastic. The office has become paperless and is moving towards electric delivery vans to minimise its carbon footprint.
Iron Maidens has entered the Innovation Award and Team of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
John Pass Jewellers
Team of the Year entrant
In an age when many similar companies have moved online, third-generation family-owned business John Pass Jewellers is committed to having a strong, visible high street presence.
Launched in Crewe in 1948 the business is now run by Andrew Pass, the great-grandson of the original founder. A Newcastle-under-Lyme branch was opened 13 years ago. Having a strong, visible presence within the community in both areas is part of the business model.
“We are a big part of the community in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Crewe,” said John Pass Jewellers project manager Hannah Auras. “It’s a really important part of our business and means a lot to us.
“To mark our 75th year in business we carried out 75 moments of kindness to give back to the communities that have supported us to get to where we are today.”
Those moments of kindness included hosting a coffee morning, running 75 miles in 12 hours, donating to toy, clothes and food bank collections and volunteering for worthy causes.
The 75th moment of kindness was a charity quiz night that involved everyone who had been part of the 75 acts of kindness. The winning team was able to donate the prize money to their chosen charity.
This year the business’s team of around 25 staff are contributing to four major impact days to continue that work.
In 2022 John Pass Jewellers became one of the first carbon-neutral retail jewellers through measures including installing electric vehicle charging points, tree planting and community clean-up projects.
John Pass Jewellers has entered the High Street Impact, Business in the Community and Team of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
The Beaconside Group
Team of the Year nominee
The Beaconside Group in Stafford has established itself as a thriving hub of business, enterprise and community activity, defying industry trends to create a unique and expanding offering.
The 45-acre site is home to more than 50 businesses across a range of sectors, some employing more than 50 staff.
Alongside the business village there is a conference and events division and a sports and fitness centre, making Beaconside an integral part of the local economy.
It is run by a team of 10 staff who take care of everything from sales and maintenance to operations and finance.
The Beaconside Group’s staff have been nominated in the Team of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards by Ben Dyer of The Inspirational Learning Group. Ben’s own business is based at Beaconside and he is also a consultant for the group.
He said: “The team ensures that every business, client and visitor feels supported, valued, and empowered. Their dedication extends far beyond providing services; they actively foster a collaborative and dynamic environment where enterprises can thrive, events can flourish and individuals can reach their full potential.
“The team operates with seamless efficiency, demonstrating an extraordinary level of teamwork, adaptability and commitment. Their ability to deliver exceptional service while juggling the diverse demands of a growing business and enterprise park is nothing short of outstanding.
“What sets this team apart is not just their ability to maintain and enhance a complex, multi-faceted business environment, but their relentless customer-centric approach. Whether supporting small start-ups or established enterprises, hosting high-profile events or ensuring the smooth running of fitness and sports facilities, they go above and beyond to meet the needs of every client.
“Their proactive problem-solving, hands-on approach and genuine enthusiasm make them more than just a team - they are the very heartbeat of Beaconside.
“It is for these reasons I am nominating the Beaconside Group team for Team of the Year. Their passion, dedication and resilience have driven not just business success but a thriving community that continues to grow and innovate.
“They exemplify what it means to work together towards a common vision, proving that with the right team anything is possible.”