SureScreen Diagnostics, which has supplied millions of Covid-19 lateral flow tests to British people during the pandemic, has been crowned the Derbyshire Business of the Year by East Midlands Chamber.
The Derby-based company picked up four awards in total at the Derbyshire Business Awards on Friday 12 November, also including Excellence in International Trade, Excellence in Innovation and the Outstanding Growth Award.
It has grown from a workforce of 50 employees to 450 over the past 18 months as it has scaled up production of its rapid antigen tests, which diagnose whether an individual has Covid-19 with 98% accuracy.
These have been shipped to about 40 countries and the UK Government ordered 22 million units, while antibody tests have also been supplied to 53 countries – leading to SureScreen planning to build extra manufacturing capacity that could create another 1,000 jobs in future.
The Derbyshire Business Awards, held in partnership with headline sponsor Mazars, recognised winners across 13 categories, ranging from Business Improvement Through Technology and Environmental Impact Award within an organisation to individual honours for Entrepreneur of the Year and Apprentice of the Year. There were new categories this year for Collaboration Project of the Year and Excellence in Innovation.
Finalists, chosen by a judging panel of the Chamber’s senior leadership and board of directors, as well as sponsors, discovered their fate during a gala dinner attended by 350 people at Derbyshire County Cricket Club – marking a return for face-to-face celebrations after being held virtually last year.
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “There has been so much to celebrate within our business community despite a challenging 18 months and these awards have showcased some of the incredible companies that call our region home.
“As the economic recovery continues, and new opportunities present themselves in a new era of global trade and sustainable business, these are just the kinds of organisations we should be highlighting when we’re shouting about everything the East Midlands has to offer. We know it’s a great place to do business and these are living proof.
“We received so many high-calibre applications, which demonstrated how the pandemic hasn’t been a period in which we have just stood still. Instead, the time afforded for reflection has led to many companies seeking out new opportunities, innovating and driving themselves forward.
“While last year offered us a different kind of experience in a virtual awards ceremony, it was great to be back holding such a landmark event for the Derbyshire business calendar in person once more. Once again, we are so thankful to our sponsors for making this event so successful.”
The Derbyshire Business Awards – one of three awards hosted by the Chamber, with others in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to follow – were hosted by British-Gambian broadcast journalist Haddy Ndure and featured entertainment by Turner and McHugh, a female duo who joined forces after featuring on BBC singing competition The Voice.
A raffle was held to raise funds for East Midlands Chamber president Eileen Richards MBE’s three chosen charities this year – Chesterfield Samaritans, Help the Homeless Leicester and Nottinghamshire Hospice.
Eileen, who owns Leicester-based ER Recruitment, gave a speech in which she highlighted the national importance of the new Museum of Making, regeneration projects like the Becketwell scheme currently underway, and the potential impacts of Derby being selected as a UK Capital of Culture for 2025 and the home of Great British Railways.
Commenting on the awards, she added: “During my year as president, I’ve been privileged to witness some of the amazing success stories that don’t always receive the wider recognition they ought to, so I’m thrilled to see some of these come to the fore at the Chamber’s Business Awards.
“The Derbyshire Business Awards has shone the spotlight on some well-deserving winners but I’d also like to congratulate the finalists for their outstanding entries too as we had some really strong competition across many categories this year.
“SureScreen Diagnostics is a very worthy winner of the Derbyshire Business of the Year and I’ve been in awe of the growth it has experienced over the past 18 months while also playing a pivotal role in the fight against Covid-19 both in the UK and overseas.”
Winners of Derbyshire Business Awards
Business Improvement Through Technology – Sponsored by Purpose Media
Winner
Futures Housing Group
Finalists
Healthy Stuff
Penny Hydraulics
Scenariio
Thompson Tree Services Midlands
Community Impact Award – Sponsored by University of Derby
Winner
Fortem Solutions
Finalists
Griffith Foods
Liniar
MVIS
Resilient World Solutions
Outstanding Growth Award – Sponsored by Amazon
Winner
SureScreen Diagnostics
Finalists
Fibre Tec Solutions
Professional Heating Solutions
Project D
Sky Recruitment Solutions
Environmental Impact Award – Sponsored by Futures Housing Group
Winner
Derby City Council – DE-Carbonise Project
Finalists
Devtank
Griffith Foods
Liniar
MVIS
Commitment to People Development Award – Sponsored by 2020 Training
Winner
Peak Indicators
Finalists
AIM Commercial Services
Aztec Oils
Nelsons
Purpose Media
Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Derby College Group
Winner
Lisa Scarboro – Futures Housing Group
Finalists
Keenan Gregory – Futures Housing Group
Amelia Burton – Griffith Foods
Mia Cooper – Joined Up Careers Derbyshire
Tom Sharratt – Neuways
Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Ryley Wealth Management
Winner
Max Vaughan – White Peak Distillery
Finalists
William Crooks – Cawarden
Adam Bamford – Colleague Box
Peter Ellse – Cosy Direct
Jillian Thomas – Future Life Wealth Management
Education and Business Partnership Award – Sponsored by RDS Global
Winner
Dronfield Heritage Trust
Finalists
Access Training (East Midlands)
Derby College Group
Embark Federation
REAL Education
Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Aston Lark
Winner
UK Asbestos Training Association
Finalists
Anoki
MaryJanes Catering
Purpose Media
The Accountancy Recruitment Group
UK Asbestos Training Association
Excellence in International Trade – Sponsored by HSBC
Winner
SureScreen Diagnostics
Finalists
Atlas Copco Medical
Aztec Oils
Cathelco
Graphoidal Developments
Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by Begbies Traynor
Winner
Project D
Finalists
Peak Indicators
The Input Group
Think3
Thompson Tree Services Midlands
Excellence in Innovation – Sponsored by Rolls-Royce
Winner
SureScreen Diagnostics
Finalists
HSG
Liniar
Scenariio
Excellence in Collaboration – Sponsored by HSBC
Winner
Derby Market Place
Finalists
Derbyshire Voluntary Action
Penguin PR with Colleague Box and Vibrant Accountancy
Safe and Sound
The Swap Shop
Business of the Year – Sponsored by Mazars
SureScreen Diagnostics
