73. Active Minds

Founder: Ben Atkinson-Willes
Founded: September 2009
Website: www.active-minds.co.uk

Providing a non-patronising alternative to children’s games, Active Minds – founded by 24-year-old Ben Atkinson-Willes – can now count the NHS, the Alzheimer’s Society and Bupa among its customers. It was his grandfather’s experience with dementia that inspired Atkinson-Willes, who graduated from Kingston University with a degree in product design, and he has grown the company impressively since its formation in 2009.

Today it works with distributors in the USA, Australia, Singapore and Ireland and, with new product lines in development – as well as further plans to expand abroad – the business expects to double its turnover this year. The company has sold more than 10,000 products since launch, and recently received a £15,000 award from social enterprise organisation, UnLtd.