The Spectator Economic Innovator of the Year Awards 2025, in partnership with Rathbones, celebrate the passion and creativity of British entrepreneurs.
We invite businesses from all corners of the UK to showcase their remarkable achievements and contributions to our economy and society. With the support of a distinguished panel of judges, we select and honour outstanding smaller ‘Breakthrough’ and larger ‘Scale-up’ ventures in six regions. One of the 12 regional winners will be named overall Economic Innovator of the Year and special awards will also be given for Excellence in Sustainability and to a newer entrant picked as our One to Watch.
Martin Vander Weyer, Business editor
What do you receive?
- Each finalist is offered two free tickets to attend a Gala Dinner at the prestigious Renaissance Hotel, St Pancras.
- Two winners will share £30,000 of print and digital advertising in The Spectator.
- 1 year’s free membership to the Institute of Directors for all winners.
- 1 year’s free subscription to The Spectator.
‘’Our partner for the 2025 Awards is Rathbones, following its merger with Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), our partner for the previous three years. The Rathbones Group is one of the UK’s leading discretionary wealth managers, supporting entrepreneurs in their business and personal lives with a shared belief in the power of innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurship’’.
2025 Finalists
These exceptional businesses have each demonstrated remarkable innovation, resilience, and vision, earning their places as finalists for the The Spectator Economic Innovator of the Year Awards 2025. We want to congratulate every one of these companies for their groundbreaking ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and impact across industries:
Altered Carbon: Digitising scent with AI to detect diseases, contamination and environmental changes invisible to traditional sensors – South West & South Wales
Ancient + Brave: Wellness brand blending ancient nutrition and modern science to support women’s health and sustainable wellbeing – London & South East
BeZero Carbon:Carbon ratings agency empowering smarter climate investments through transparent data, research, and environmental market insights – London & South East
Bionema: Developing natural bio-solutions replacing harmful agrochemicals, improving yields, restoring soil health and protecting global ecosystems – South West & South Wales
Calyo: Creating advanced 3D sensing technology that helps vehicles and machines see safely in all conditions – South West & South Wales
Camascope: Leading digital medication management platform improving safety, compliance and personalised care across social and pharmacy sectors – London & South East
Clays: Immersive social venue reimagining clay shooting with motion-capture gameplay and exceptional hospitality experiences – London & South East
DEScycle:Transforming e-waste into critical metals through clean chemistry, reducing carbon emissions and building sustainable circular supply chains – North East
Empro Business Group:Delivering expert consultancy and technology solutions that streamline operations, drive efficiency and achieve exceptional project outcomes – Midlands
Espanaro: Delivering AI-driven defence technologies for intelligence, surveillance and secure communications protecting national and civil infrastructure – North West & North Wales
ETO:Patented wine decanter preserving freshness by sealing out air, reducing waste and enhancing enjoyment – London & South East
Flexa: Using AI to match talent with transparent, inclusive employers, promoting fairness and data-driven workforce strategy – South West & South Wales
FreshWipes: Providing innovative hygiene products for people without showers, offering freshness, dignity, and convenience anywhere – London & South East
Goldilock Secure: Providing military-grade cybersecurity that physically disconnects networks, removing digital attack surfaces and ensuring ultimate data protection – Midlands
Gold Standard Phantoms:Standardising MRI diagnostics globally with real-time calibration technology that improves accuracy, reproducibility and patient outcomes – North East
GoodSAM:Emergency response platform connecting responders faster, enabling lifesaving action and remote video assessment worldwide – London & South East
growyze:Simplifying hospitality stock control with intuitive cloud software reducing waste, cutting costs and improving visibility – London & South East
HELIXX:Building local electric vehicle ecosystems to manufacture affordable electric vehicles, transforming mobility and creating sustainable jobs globally – Midlands
Hub Culture: A global digital platform connecting leaders through AI, blockchain and collaborative innovation hubs worldwide – London & South East
Lucky Egg: Creator of viral party games uniting millions through laughter, connection, and social fun – London & South East
LYMA: Wellness pioneer delivering patented supplements and revolutionary at-home, medical-grade laser skincare technology – London & South East
Maiden Cricket: Redefining women’s cricket apparel with inclusive, high-performance designs created by players, for players – North East
Media Stream AI: Transforming media engagement through AI-powered personalisation that adapts content to every viewer in real time – North West & North Wales
pirkx: Affordable wellbeing platform offering 40+ benefits, democratising access to health, support, and financial savings – London & South East
Polytag: Enabling packaging traceability with visible and invisible tags that support recycling, compliance and circular economy goals – North West & North Wales
Probe Industries: Delivering world-leading air pollution control technologies that protect communities and improve environmental sustainability worldwide – North East
Purdy & Figg: Sustainable cleaning brand using natural ingredients and refillable bottles to transform homes and reduce waste – London & South East
Remora: Delivering biodegradable, nature-inspired technology that prevents biofilm growth sustainably across industrial, medical and consumer applications – Scotland & Northern Ireland
Seafields Solutions: Turning Sargassum seaweed into carbon-capturing biomass, creating sustainable aquaculture and measurable climate impact in the Caribbean – North West & North Wales
Selina Finance: Fintech unlocking home equity through flexible, affordable credit, empowering homeowners to achieve life’s major goals – London & South East
SmartR AI: Empowering businesses with safe, ethical AI that enhances productivity, unlocks insights and supports responsible digital transformation – Scotland & Northern Ireland
Tewke:Smart light switches with built-in sensors and AI automations, saving energy and simplifying home living – London & South East
Thankbox: Digitising appreciation with personalised cards and gifts that strengthen workplace culture, engagement and employee retention – Scotland & Northern Ireland
Totem Learning: Designing immersive serious games and simulations that drive engagement, performance and measurable learning outcomes – Midlands
UNDO: Capturing atmospheric CO2 naturally through enhanced rock weathering, improving soils and enabling scalable, verifiable carbon removal – Scotland & Northern Ireland
Unhidden: Designing stylish, adaptive fashion with accessibility features, empowering disabled people while redefining inclusive design – London & South East
VES: British ventilation experts designing bespoke air systems and AirDoor technology for efficient, sustainable buildings – London & South East
Waymap: Providing accurate indoor and outdoor navigation for visually impaired users, enhancing independence and accessibility globally – London & South East
Xworks AI: Blockchain-based platform creating digital product passports to track, verify and trade sustainable materials responsibly – London & South East
Zeti: Fintech platform enabling real-time, transparent financing for clean transport and sustainable infrastructure projects – London & South East
ZOE: Transforming health with AI-driven nutrition insights, empowering millions to eat better and feel healthier – London & South East
The Spectator Economic Innovator of the Year Award
in Partnership with Rathbones
Domin – And the winner of the South West & South Wales region.
Excellence in Sustainability Winner
Polymateria – And the winner of the London & South East region.
Innovator to watch
Nellie Technologies Ltd – And the winner of the North West and North Wales region.
Regional winners
London & South East
Breakthrough Winner
Novai
Scale-Up Winner
Code First Girls
North East
Breakthrough Winner
Rezon Ltd
Scale-Up Winner
AES Engineering Ltd
North West & North Wales
Breakthrough Winner
Audiebant
Scale-Up Winner
Map of Ag
Midlands
Breakthrough Winner
UB Infrastructure Ltd
Scale-Up Winner
Moasure
Scotland & Northern Ireland
Breakthrough Winner
Biocaptiva Ltd
Scale-Up Winner
Artemis Technologies
South West & South Wales
Breakthrough Winner
Domin
Scale-Up Winner
ANNA Money
Terms & conditions for the Economic Innovator of the Year Awards
ENTRY
1. Entry for the 2025 Awards opens on Thursday 1st May 2025 and closes midnight Friday 18th July 2025. Any entries received after that time will not be considered.
2. The winners of the Economic Innovator of the Year Awards will be announced on Thursday 27th November 2025.
3. You may only submit an entry for a company or business partnership of which you are a director, partner or senior executive, and not on behalf of anyone else. Entries must be submitted by one senior named representative of the entrant.
4. The person submitting the entry must be over 18 years of age.
5. For the avoidance of doubt, entrants for these Awards must be for-profit businesses whose products or services are already available to customers in their marketplace – by direct sale or via joint ventures or licensing agreements. Entries cannot be considered from businesses whose products or services were still in development and not yet commercially available at the end of their last financial year and have become commercially available prior to 1st May 2025 – and the judges’ decision on this point will be final. The Spectator and Rathbones will respect the confidentiality of all financial data provided but entrants must provide an accurate indication of the financial scale of their business, and in particular of actual and forecast revenue growth.
6. The Spectator and Rathbones cannot give an award to any entrant that cannot be contacted after the entry has been submitted.
7. The six regional categories are: London and the South East; Scotland & Northern Ireland; North East; North West & North Wales; Midlands; South West & South Wales. Awards will be given in two categories in all 6 regions: companies with annual revenue smaller than £3million; and companies with annual revenue exceeding £3million.
8. Entrants can only apply for one region. The entrants organisation must either have its registered address or its main place of business located within the region for which it has entered the Awards. In the event of doubt as to which region is most appropriate for any entrant, the decision of The Spectator and Rathbones will be final.
9. An additional Award will be given for a venture that shows excellence in its approach to sustainability. An additional Award will be given for a venture deemed ‘one to watch’ by the judges. Entrants for both these categories will be taken from the regional categories mentioned above.
10. Employees of The Spectator, or Rathbones, and their family members, and anyone else connected with organising the Awards, may not enter any category.
11. All Award winners will be asked to take part in promotional activity and by submitting your entry you give your permission to The Spectator and its headline partner, Rathbones, to use the details of your entry to promote the Awards. This could include but is not limited to websites, press releases and print.
12. Entrants to the Awards are required to complete and submit either the online or pdf entry form.
13. A shortlist of finalists will be selected in each region from the entries submitted by the closing date. The short-listed entrants will then be required to participate in a meeting with the regional judges at which they will be invited to make a short presentation about their business (or a telephone interview if unable to attend the judges lunch). Two podcasts will then be recorded by the judges and will be published on The Spectator’s website, discussing all regional finalists.
14. Shortlisted finalists will be notified by email or phone within six weeks of the closing date and will be invited as guests to the The Spectator’s Economic Innovator of the Year Awards Gala Dinner on Monday 24th November 2025, where the winners will be officially announced.
15. The judges’ decision is final and there will be no appeals.
16. The Spectator and Rathbones reserve the right to refuse to accept any entry which in its opinion does not comply with these terms and conditions or which contravenes the spirit of the Awards.
17. The Spectator and Rathbones further reserve the right to cancel the Awards itself if, in their opinion, the calibre or number of entries is insufficient.
18. We cannot offer feedback about specific shortlisting decisions or any comment on individual entries.
19. The overall winner will receive the prize, consisting of a bespoke Award trophy and an advertising campaign for their company, across print and digital platforms in The Spectator, to the value of £20,000. Subject to availability. The print and digital advertising schedule, given to the overall winner only, is to the value of £20,000 as specified in The Spectator media pack https://spectator.com/advertising. Whilst the winning entrant may express a preference for dates and media type, The Spectator’s decision is final. The Spectator may dictate the date and type of media offered.
20. The winner of the Award for Excellence in Sustainability category will receive a prize consisting of a bespoke Award trophy and an advertising campaign for their company, across print and digital platforms in The Spectator, to the value of £10,000. Subject to availability. The print and digital advertising schedule, given to the overall sustainability winner only, is to the value of £10,000 as specified in The Spectator media pack https://spectator.com/advertising. Whilst the winning entry may express a preference for dates and media type, The Spectator’s decision is final and overriding. The Spectator may dictate the date and type of media offered.
21. The twelve regional winners will each receive a bespoke Award trophy.
22. Prizes are not transferable, and no cash alternative will be offered.
23. The prizes will be awarded to the senior representatives of the winning finalists who are present at the Awards Gala Dinner, where the winners will be officially announced.
24. Events may occur that render the Awards competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the The Spectator and Rathbones who accordingly may at their absolute discretion vary, amend, or waive these rules and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to The Spectator and Rathbones as a result thereof.
25. By entering the Awards competition participants confirm their agreement of these Terms and Conditions.
DATA PROTECTION
By entering the Awards competition participants confirm their agreement for the data submitted to be processed by The Spectator and our sponsoring partners, including Rathbones, and the judges, for the purpose of assessing their application and as further set out in our Privacy Policy. This may include entrants being contacted ahead of shortlisting.
Participants also confirm their agreement to be contacted via telephone and email with regards to their application.
.
