SME Business of the Year (sponsored by Baldwins)

ABP Technology

A RAPIDLY growing gaming company is a finalist for the SME Business of the Year Award 2019.

ABP Technology, based in Bolton town centre, has two of the three top-performing Gaming Audio Accessory brands in the UK. The company was created in 2016 and has a small team with a wealth of experience and talent.

It currently has 15 members of staff and is one of the fastest growing gaming accessory brands in the world. The company’s STEALTH brand is well-established in the UK in retailers including Argos, Smyths Toys Superstore, Asda, Tesco and Morrison’s. It is also in the Australian market, Europe and the Middle East.

Commented Product Marketing Manager Marc Pogorzelec: “Over the previous two years we have shown incredible growth around the globe and we are extremely proud of the efforts from everyone involved to get us to this position in such a short period of time.”

Aquavape

AQUAVAPE has grown from a shared desk in a shared office in 2013 to dedicated premises supplying stores including Asda, Sainsbury’s and Spar in 2019.

Now, the company is shortlisted for the SME Business of the Year Award.

Two brothers-in-law, Ebrahim Kathrada and Mubaraq Patel , originally began supplying vaping solutions in a simple way. They grew the business to eventually have its own e-liquid manufacturing and supply centre in Peaks Place Business Park in Halliwell with more than 30 in-house staff.

Aquavape has secured listings with many well-known suppliers, including most recently the Co-op, and is recognised in the industry as one of the largest independent vape brands in the UK.

Mr Kathrada said the Aquavape team were “delighted and proud” to be finalists for awards that celebrated success. “We would like to congratulate all the other companies who have also been shortlisted for this year’s categories,” he said.

Jewel Home Support

A HOME care company that started as a small business has grown to provide care for more than 150 people.

Now, Jewel Home Support is a finalist for the SME Business of the Year Award.

In seven years, it has achieved immense growth through successful relationships with Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton Hospitals and Bolton Council.

It has a flexible approach to delivering services and worked with the Council over the last three Winters to provide essential care services during a time of high demand. It currently successfully captures 20 per cent of the town’s domiciliary care business.

Commented Business Development Lead Latif Jiva: “We have shown phenomenal growth in the past three years. Our investment in recruitment, training and development has served the company well.

“Our customer base has increased massively and we’re utilising the latest technology to assist us in offering an excellent service in a competitive market.”

MBW

THE local arm of American company MBW INC. is a finalist for the SME Business of the Year 2019.

MBW has been trading in Bolton for more than 30 years and is now in Cochrane Street. The company has 12 employees, manufacturing and shipping concrete, compaction and utility products across the UK and Europe.

It’s a success story in a highly competitive and overcrowded market, delivering next day to UK customers and supplying accessories for its machines as well as having a repairs’ service.

MBW machines figure in many areas of daily life where public utilities have to be dug up. Its biggest achievement has been in making more efficiency and time-saving, manufactured with increased operator safety.

Commented Online Marketing Manager Roland Gent: “MBW Europe is delighted to be a finalist. Being nominated means that we are recognised for our hard work and also our contribution to the local economy.”

Traffic Management Survey and Design Ltd

TRAFFIC Management Survey and Design Ltd started as a one-man design company in 2015 and today has 15 employees.

Now, the Leigh-based firm is a finalist for the SME Business of the Year Award.

Darren Mills worked for other traffic management companies across the UK and kept getting asked to deliver the work himself. So, he and his son Leighton started on the road with two traffic management vans and from there it has just snowballed.

The company does everything from street works and road closures to event traffic management, pedestrian management and CAD drawings. The company has 12 vans and a thriving business and has plans to open two more depots in Yorkshire and the Midlands with more vehicles.

Commented Darren: “It’s a great achievement for the company and staff to be voted as a finalist. Now we are in the finals we want to go and win it.”