Innovation, international growth and commitment to people development were among qualities recognised at the East Midlands Chamber Derbyshire Business Awards 2025/26.
Delivered in partnership with Vaillant, with entertainment sponsored by Vaillant LIVE and drinks by Longbow Venues, the prestigious ceremony, considered one of the most important in the Chamber’s calendar, took place at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium on 26th March.
Hosted by radio personalities Jo and Sparky, the landmark event saw the recipients of 12 award categories revealed.
The flagship Business of the Year Award, always selected from one of the ceremony’s category winners, was sponsored by Awards partner Vaillant and went to Embark Federation, after first receiving both the Collaboration of the Year Award and the Education and Business Partnership of the Year Award.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Mention Derbyshire anywhere in the world and people instantly think excellence in making and innovating – a reputation built from a heritage stretching back to the industrial revolution and still evolving and adapting to change. Whether the building of some of the world’s best cars or trains, its advanced manufacturing industry, digital or AI development, the county continually moves forward.
“The Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards shine the spotlight on standout people and organisations driving growth through their creativity, their approach and their leadership. Recognising that talent, enabling firms to celebrate their achievements and build connections across the business community is valuable.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the partners and sponsors that made the Derbyshire Business Awards a superb event and I congratulate all the finalists and award recipients.”
Vaillant were the partner for the event. Vaillant UK and Ireland Managing Director Henrik Hansen said: “This evening celebrated the outstanding achievements of Derbyshire’s business community and is a real tribute to the strength and resilience of our region. As one of the area’s largest employers with over 90 years of manufacturing heritage in Derbyshire, Vaillant is proud to be part of this thriving business landscape.
“From the nominees to tonight’s award winners, the evening has exemplified the innovation, commitment and excellence that make Derbyshire such a vibrant place to do business. We’re excited about our continued investment here and events like these remind us why we remain so firmly committed to manufacturing in Derbyshire for generations to come.”
Embark Federation Trust Leader Matt Crawford, after winning the flagship Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Business Awards partner Vaillant said: “I’m very proud of everyone in our organisation and it’s an honour really to be part of the Business Awards.
“We serve 25 schools currently and about 10,000 children across Derbyshire. Many of those are in the most disadvantaged areas in the whole country. We’re trying to give them the best of everything, from 2 to 18 year olds across the Trust, supporting them, giving them opportunities that they perhaps wouldn’t normally have. Our work with businesses really help us to do that.
“It’s lovely to have been recognised on behalf of everyone in our organisation.”
The Digital Transformation Award, in association with Treetops Hospice went to Devtank. Co-founder and CEO Tim Telford said: “We’ve been on this journey for 12 years now. I started the business from my garage and bedroom and it’s been an amazing rollercoaster.
“I’ve met fantastic people in the East Midlands and we’ve got a great customer base.”
The CSR Leadership Award, sponsored by University of Derby went to Upbeat Clean. Speaking afterwards Managing Director Michael Gladwell said: “Corporate social responsibility is our business model; it’s everything about how we employ people, how we serve our staff as well as our partners.”
University of Derby Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Keith McLay said: “Corporate and social responsibility is central to the University of Derby. We contribute and serve the communities of Derby and Derbyshire and we’re delighted to be able to sponsor this particular award. We’re thrilled that Upbeat Clean is the winner of the CSR Leadership Award.”
The Green Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Mackworth Vehicle Conversions went to Penny Engineering. Speaking afterwards Finance Director Ashley Holmes said: “We do so much for our green credential sort of thing. We’ve done solar panels, heating controls, we’ve got battery storage, we recycle, we make our products cheaper and more user friendly and less CO2 in them and that sort of thing year on year. So we work really hard and it’s really important to us.”
Mackworth Vehicle Conversions General Manager Andrew Kent said:
“Businesses within the East Midlands are looking to each other to see what innovations they can put together. That’s the celebration we need to do; look at what other people are doing and see if we can enhance that and develop it within the businesses that we all run.”
The Excellence In International Growth Award sponsored by DJH Accountants and Business Advisers went to Cosy. Speaking afterwards Sales and Marketing Director Chris Ratcliffe said: “Every single person at Cosy works so hard, both work within the UK, but also internationally. We think we’re doing well but for people outside Cosy to give us that validation is just tremendous.
“We seem to celebrate almost every month. We had a party in Nuremberg when we celebrated our King’s Award. We’re having another party next month to celebrate that.”
The Excellence in Customer Service Award, sponsored by Howden, went to Longbow Venues. Speaking afterwards Operations Director Steve Atkinson said: “Everything we do is about customer service so to win this award means everything to us.
“We look after our team and I take great pride in that. I think the team have showed that if they’re looked after, they’ll look after the customers and that excellence comes through. The Business Awards are about the team coming together, being rewarded for the work they do, being in a room full of other professionals. Being recognised in front of all those professionals means a great deal to everybody.”
East Midlands radio personalities Jo and Sparky hosted all three of the Chamber’s Business Awards ceremonies in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Jo Russell said: “In the East Midlands there’s a real sense of everybody helping everybody. That’s why we love the region so much. When we’ve been on the radio, we’ve been able to put feelers out if somebody in the region needed some help. We’d get so many people going, ‘we’ll help, we’ll do it’. People want to look after each other here.
“The Awards celebrate how great local businesses are, let them can mingle, network and celebrate.”
Sparky said: “We’re passionate about the East Midlands. We’ve been lucky enough to broadcast here for the last 10 years. Celebrating wins like this, especially for business, for local business, that’s part of the landscape that we’ve been part of.”
East Midlands Chamber Derbyshire Business Awards 2025/6 recipients:
Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Vaillant and selected from award recipients from all categories
WINNER: Embark Federation
Digital Transformation Award – in association with Treetops Hospice
WINNER: Devtank
CSR Leadership Award – sponsored by University of Derby
WINNER: Upbeat Clean
Collaboration of the Year Award – sponsored by Juggling Octopus
WINNER: Embark Federation
Green Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Mackworth Vehicle Conversions
WINNER: Penny Engineering
Commitment to People Development Award – sponsored by Derby College Group (DCG)
WINNER: Bloc Digital
Apprentice of the Year Award – sponsored by Chesterfield College Group
WINNER: Tasha Mills of Paragon
Excellence in International Growth Award – sponsored by DJH Accountants and Business Advisers
WINNER: Cosy
Education and Business Partnership of the Year Award – sponsored by Truly SMB
WINNER: Embark Federation
Excellence in Customer Service Award – sponsored by Howden
WINNER: Longbow Venues
Micro Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Amazon
WINNER: Broadhurst Digital
Small Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Azets
WINNER: Thompsons Group
Innovation of the Year Award – sponsored by Rolls-Royce
WINNER: Devtank
