Salary Finance takes top spot as Startups Awards 2018 winners are revealed

The winners of the Startups Awards 2018 have been unveiled, with Salary Finance – the fintech business with an admirable social purpose – awarded the overall prize of The Start Up Loans Company Start-up of the Year.

Now in its 15th year, the Startups Awards is the UK’s leading – and longest-running – annual awards programme for privately-owned businesses that have been launched in the last four years.

77 innovative and exciting start-ups were shortlisted as finalists this year, and 17 different awards – plus 32 Highly Commended and Commended trophies for worthy runners up – were up for grabs.

Announced at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington last night, the winners and runners up had been carefully chosen in advance by our illustrious Startups Awards judging panel.

This year’s judges included Mumsnet founder and CEO Justine Roberts, LOVEFiLM co-founder Simon Franks, Black British Business Awards chair and founder Melanie Eusebe, innocent drinks and JamJar Investments co-founder Jon Wright, CEO of Vita Coco EMEA Giles Brook, Unruly chair and co-founder Sarah Wood OBE, and many more high-profile business experts.

Organised by Startups.co.uk, the Startups Awards 2018 is backed by headline sponsor The Start Up Loans Company, and category sponsors AXA, haysmacintyre, GoDaddy, NetSuite, and Making Moves.

The Startups Awards 2018 winners are:

• • The Start Up Loans Company Start-up of the Year: Salary Finance

• • People’s Champion: Craft Gin Club

• • B2B Business of the Year: Glencar Construction

• • Export Business of the Year: Fancy Dress Worldwide

• • Venture Funded Business of the Year: Elvie

• • Crowdfunded Business of the Year: Mindful Chef

• • Best Place to Work: Tonik Energy

• • Innovative Business of the Year: Habito

• • Family Business of the Year: Phelps Innovations (Doddl)

• • The Founders Pledge Social Impact Award: Salary Finance

• • Consumer Business of the Year: LovetheSales

• • Women in Business Award: Tania Boler, Elvie

• • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Alexandra Isenegger, Linkilaw

• • Side Hustle of the Year: Mama Bamboo

• • The Start Up Loans Company Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year: Catherine Dodd and Rosie Phelps-Goggin, Phelps Innovations (Doddl)

• • Start-up Community Catalyst of the Year: New Entrepreneurs Foundation

• • Growth Business Enabler of the Year: London & Partners

Ian Wallis, Editorial Director at Startups.co.uk, commented:

“For everyone who thinks they need an incredibly unique idea to create a start-up success story, just look at our Startups Awards winners.

“Yes, they are all outstandingly brilliant, but reassuringly, so many of them are a clever twist to improve what’s already out there.

“Cutlery for children, fancy dress outfits, discount clothes, energy provision, loans, legal advice, mortgages, nappies and wipes, activity trackers, and food delivery… The beauty – and what made all our winners exceptional – was in the delivery and attention to detail, ensuring they all offer something incumbents don’t.

“Each and every one of them is challenging the market and finding scale at a dizzying rate. We salute their passion, innovation and determination – and look forward to witnessing their achievements for years to come.”

Join in the celebrations with our Startups Awards 2018 winners and runners up on social media using the hashtag #StartupsAwards!