9. Shiply.com

Founder: Robert Matthams
Website: www.shiply.com

Robert came up with the idea for Shiply.com while studying at Manchester University. After chatting to the driver that delivered him a pool table he discovered that haulage companies often have partially or fully empty vehicles while travelling between delivery routes. His solution was a marketplace where users could post details on items they need moved or delivered and haulage companies could bid for the jobs that follow similar routes to the ones they’re already travelling.

The result is a reduction in CO2, cheaper delivery options for customers, and more profitable delivery routes for transport companies. Shiply’s commission-based revenue model has seen company turnover enjoy a 10-20% monthly growth rate over the past year, and Robert has bagged a whole trophy cabinet’s worth of awards along the way.