Increase in the number of new business since COVID-19
Lancing-based startup WITHMAX has been named a finalist ahead of the South East Final of the StartUp Awards.
The StartUp Awards has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the 2019 pandemic. Over 800,000 new businesses were founded in the UK since 2021, a 4.3% increase from the year before.
A record number of businesses applied to this year’s StartUp Awards, with 1,100 firms shortlisted across ten UK nations and regions. The contribution of these firms – all of which were started in the last three years – is significant, having created over 5,000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £584 million.
StartUp Awards nominate WITHMAX for Consumer Services
WITHMAX is a dog training business dedicated to educating owners about everything they need to know about their new or old canine companion. The team’s aim is to create a positive life for dogs and the people who love them through the correct training and understanding of their pets the minute they bring them home.
WITHMAX was founded by Tessa Luke in 2021. The business has been nominated for the Consumer Services StartUp of the Year at the 2023 awards. Tessa Luke, founder of WITHMAX, said: “I am completely overwhelmed and proud to have been shortlisted for this award out of the thousands of people who applied. Working with dogs has been an incredible journey for me so far and it has made me realise how much of a huge difference can be made to a dog and an owner’s life by helping them to understand each other.
“I hope that, with this opportunity to spread our message further by being an award finalist and our work recognised, more dogs will be helped and less will be involved in accidents, attacks and left at rescue centres. Dogs are the most incredible animals, but are also hugely misunderstood. We want to do everything we can to ensure that as many dogs as possible live a happy and fulfilled life.”
Celebrating the acheivments of individuals behind start-up businesses
Supported nationally by Starling Bank, British Business Bank, BT, Creative Ideaz, GS1 UK, Jeeves, Join Talent, ScoreApp and The Purposeful Project, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the StartUp Awards, said: “Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and in supporting communities in every nation and region across the UK. All of the finalists this year represent the best of those entrepreneurs who have spotted an opportunity and through their sheer hard work, talent and perseverance, have created an amazing new business that is creating real impact in its sector.”
The StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. The StartUp Awards are running for the second year after launching in 2022.
This year’s StartUp Awards finalists can be found online at nationalstartupawards.com.
