The 10 finalists in the Start-up Business of the Year category (sponsored by Thrive)

#Sushma'snacks

A WOMAN who had a successful career in corporate travel gave it up to create her own catering company.

Now, Sushma’snacks is a finalist for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award and Sushma Solanki is daily living her dream.

Her unique twist on buffets - home-cooked, healthy food with quality customer service and presentation - has won her a host of prestigious clients with her customer base including a growing number of corporate clients.

Alongside this, Sushma wanted to “help others wake up their passion for healthy and home-cooked food” so she started offering gift vouchers for one-to-one cookery lessons. These have grown to group sessions and team-building and bonding.

Commented Sushma: “Wow! What a time to be a finalist in the Start-Up Business category. It’s a real honour. Bolton feels alive at the moment with new and independent businesses so to be part of this is amazing.”

ActionCOACH

A CONSULTANCY and training company formed just over a year ago is a finalist in the Start-Up Business of the Year category.

Just a few months after launching his business from a home office and using funding from cashflow, Paul Limb purchased an ActionCOACH franchise. He also moved into an administrative office and training facility in Deakins Business Park in Egerton and now employs a full-time Sales and Marketing Manager.

The company launched a series of coaching programmes and one-off seminars, assisting business owners to grow and move forward. His ultimate target is to help 1,000 business owners grow their companies and create 1,000 new jobs in the local economy.

Paul was “delighted” to be a finalist, commenting: “We exist to help local business owners grow their companies and fulfil the dreams they had when first starting out. So to be nominated alongside other local businesses is a real honour.”

Cherry Moon Ltd

A BOLTON town centre shop that has grown into a community is a finalist for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award.

When Caroline and John Crilly launched Cherry Moon Ltd in Bridge Street a year ago they wanted to create a comic book shop and café that would become a hub for like-minded individuals “to come together and enjoy a safe space.”

Now, their business welcomes people from all walks of life. It offers different events each week including quiz nights, comedy nights, life-drawing and craft clubs, tournaments and board game socials.

Cherry Moon has a zero alcohol policy, is family-friendly and hosts fun health awareness events.

Commented Caroline: “We’ve put our heart and soul into the place and built up such a fantastic little community from nothing. It really means a lot to have had our efforts recognised, and a well-deserved pat on the back for our team.”

Chorley New Road Tuition Centre

A TUITION Centre launched just a few months ago had its premises within two weeks and a significant following on all social media platforms one week later.

Now, Chorley New Road Tuition Centre has not only a wide range of students developing and demonstrating clear progress but is a finalist for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award 2019.

Melanie Lever and Hayleigh Banks are the principal tutors at the business launched as a result of their dream which now has four employees.

As to their biggest achievement, Melanie commented: “It’s not just one achievement that we’re proud of. Every single review, every light-bulb moment, every student that goes on to study the subject further after initially struggling are achievements to us.

“We’re teachers doing this for the right reasons. We’re two mums wanting to make a difference, wanting children to develop a thirst for knowledge and love of learning.”

Jewel Home Support

A BOLTON business that has grown from two staff to more than 150 is now a finalist for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award 2019.

Jewel Home Support, based in Fletcher Street, attributes its huge growth in staff and turnover to acquiring new business with Bolton Council and the NHS.

The company has become one of the key approved suppliers for domiciliary home care for the Council and for Bolton’s hospitals, taking 20 per cent of the town’s business. It has rated and retained the Good standard by the Care and Quality Commission.

It is now developing Jewel Home Support CLC to assist families with long-term care and a mental health programme for local young people and the elderly.

Business Development Lead Latif Jiva put its success down to “turning cost factors into revenue streams and focussing on evolving the service provided, plus professional development of all our employees.”

Montann

HELEN Crompton and Jasmine Coleman took advantage of the expanding vineyards in the heart of England to produce and develop their own brand of English wines and waters and put Bolton on the map.

Today, three years later, their brand, Montann, has become a favourite at concerts and other VIP events in London and Manchester and the company is a finalist for the 2019 Start-Up Business of the Year Award.

Montann Boutique English Wines were launched at the Royal Henley Regatta in 2018, followed quickly by concerts in Hyde Park catering exclusively for VIPs.

Although in its early stages, Montann is becoming increasingly popular on the celebrity circuit and its sparkling wine compared favourably to champagne.

Commented Helen: “We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted alongside established companies. We hope that our ambition to grow our English wine company will bring new partnerships, opportunities and relationships across our home town”

The Railway, Bromley Cross

A DERELICT pub brought back to life less than a year ago is a finalist for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award 2019.

The Railway in Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross had been boarded up for three years before business partners Michael Hales and Matt Heppleston took over.

Michael, a trained chef turned teacher, and Matt, an IT specialist, had already transformed two other pubs and invested heavily in it along with landlord, Star Pubs.

The duo turned the premises into a vibrant and social centre for the community. They made positive links with local schools and clubs and now employ 35 local staff. “The success has outstripped our wildest dreams, doubling our turnover predictions,” stated Michael.

Commented Matt: “Our aim was to bring The Railway back to life and give it back to the community. Therefore, to receive this nomination from the Bolton community means the world to us.”

Northern Monkey Brew Company

NORTHERN Monkey Brew Company Ltd started life in an Astley Bridge garage and today stands alongside some of Bolton’s most historic buildings.

Now, the company is a finalist for the 2019 Start-Up Business of the Year Award.

Ryan Bailey, Liam Convey and Kevin Barber produce and distribute award-winning ales from the Pack Horse Hotel in Nelson Square. They won the North West Gold Award in the SIBA Regional Beer Awards for Chocolate Treacle Porter “Underdog”, following this with a silver award in the National Awards 2018.

Their beers are innovative and include the world’s first Popcorn Stout. They have created jobs for local people, work experience for Bolton College students and have a strong recycling policy.

Commented Ryan: “To be a finalist in these awards is testament to the effort the staff have put in over the last year. We’re over the moon that we must be doing something right!”

Real Life Health and Fitness

WHEN Tyler Mullings opened his Bolton gym last year it was a dream come true.

Now, after helping hundreds of local people to fitness, his Real Life Health and Fitness company is a finalist to become the Start-Up Business of the Year.

Tyler, an experienced Personal Trainer, opened his gym with 4,000 Instagram followers and now has over 35,000.

He offers free children’s classes, a weekly lads’ training camp and a free Saturday class for all. “Money can restrict us a lot in this world and I believe being fit and healthy shouldn’t be one of them,” he explained.

He now has a PA and seven self-employed PTs, with gym membership growing from 50 to over 250.

On becoming a finalist, he commented: “The smile on my mum’s face when I told her - priceless. We’re all honoured and privileged to be recognised and put alongside such other great businesses.”

The Audit Lab

A DIGITAL marketing agency started just two years ago has built a unique working culture and already launched a successful apprenticeship scheme.

Its progress has earned The Audit Lab in Chorley New Road industry plaudits and a finalist’s nomination for the Start-Up Business of the Year Award 2019.

Alongside its growth, The Audit Lab has created a working ethos that focusses on its employees including unlimited holidays, flexi-time, shorter working days, working from home, training, up-skilling and six-monthly pay reviews.

It has gone from two founding staff members to nine full-time staff and is on track to triple revenue in the current financial year.

Commented Director Claire Crompton: “It’s an absolute honour to be shortlisted for this award.

“The Audit Lab has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years and working with such a talented team is what has made this fantastic growth happen so quickly.”