This year, the MEN Tech awards will celebrate those companies in and around Manchester that have made smart and successful use of tech. The awards will take place as a virtual ceremony on May 20th - tickets are free and can be booked via the official awards website.
The challenges of the last year often required new and innovative solutions to overcome. Many companies found their usual way of doing business foreclosed by the coronavirus pandemic, and the limitations it imposed on how they could work.
Technology was an integral part of overcoming these challenges, helping businesses at times completely reorient how they operated - making their process more efficient and more comprehensive, and more current.
Beyond the pandemic, technology will remain a vital part of industry - as new developments are made each day that create new ways of doing business. Companies are always striving to stay ahead of the curve, and utilise tech to give them an edge.
It’s this spirit of innovation that the awards will celebrate - and after a period of judging the finalists for this year have been chosen. These are the companies that have proved they know how to use technology to its fullest potential.
Best Global Reach
Godel Technologies
As a software company with offices in England and Belarus, technology is extremely important to Godel. The business produces tailored IT solutions for other companies, helping them to improve their own IT set-up and ensure that they’re on the cutting edge. Godel’s professionalism and wealth of expertise have made them a trusted name with its clients. In particular, their presence across Eastern Europe makes them well placed to source the best talent and stay at the forefront of the industry.
Hardy and Ellis Inventions Ltd
Hardy and Ellis Inventions is a company that aims to merge the digital and physical into a truly interactive experience. It produces projected displays that are interactive - as well as appliances that use projection, and programmable physical spaces- to provide people with a far wider range of ways to consume, deploy, and manage digital information and media. For instance, its digital inspection table allows for far greater efficiency and accuracy in a quality control process - while an interactive projection lets you use apps on a wall the way you would on your phone.
v360 Group
Providing safety training for the 21st Century, v360 creates immersive experiences that let people train for potentially hazardous situations, without any risk. Based in the UK, Mallorca, and New Haven CT, v360 works in the energy, maritime, and ocean industries - using extensive data research and the latest VR / AR / MR / XR to produce high quality simulations of hazardous situations. The team’s extensive expertise with hazardous environments helps ensure that v360’s immersive creations are as true to life as possible - producing accurate and valuable hazard and safety training.
Best Digital Innovation
Cevitr
Automation is an increasingly prevalent part of business, and Cevitr works to ensure that businesses are able to reap the benefits of the time and energy it frees up. The company provides the creation and implementation of an automation system - centered on the digital workmate, Jo. Cevitr carries out the process from start to finish, including maintenance - providing businesses with the ability to focus on more important tasks, safe in the knowledge that Jo will handle the simple stuff.
Hardy and Ellis Inventions Ltd
Hardy and Ellis Inventions Ltd is a company that works to help both machines and people reach their full potential and, in doing so, produce exemplary results. The company’s major product is a mixed-reality Digital Inspection Table designed for use in the packaging industry. The table provides accurate and detailed quality control information that is easily accessible and manipulable. This makes the quality control process much easier and more reliable - reducing mistakes, waste, and uncertainty.
Xpllore
Virtual reality is becoming more and more common - and Xpllore is a business that works to bring the possibilities of VR to as many people as possible. The company has developed a streaming platform that uses 5G to provide immersive content without any need for a pre-existing VR setup, and the costs that come with it. As such, users can utilise the platform to share and collaborate via VR content - making a new and exciting technology available to a much wider range of people.
Best Tech Business (Over 50 Employees)
Mojo Mortgages
Securing a mortgage can often be a complicated process, and the goal of Mojo Mortgages is to bring people a simple online service that retains the high quality of a professional broker. The online platform aims to help prospective buyers find a deal on a mortgage in 15 minutes, offering personalised advice but without the often-high cost of hiring a broker. Mojo has seen a positive response to this service, having already sold 3,500 mortgages totaling over £600m.
Peak
AI is a very useful tool for businesses - providing the ability to analyse huge amounts of information and make considered decisions based on that info. Peak helps businesses put AI at the heart of their commercial decision making - using AI to analyse data and make commercial decisions as a result. In doing so, uncertainty is reduced, and the depth of analysis is increased considerably - letting businesses make more effective and profitable decisions. Peak works with companies from the start of the process to the finish - helping to ensure that its clients get the most out of AI.
Team 17
Founded in 1990, Team 17 is an independent games company that works with third-party developers as well as producing its own games. The Team 17 Team have a wealth of experience, having published over 110 games including the extremely popular ‘Worms’ series. The in-house team is capable of handling every part of a game’s development - Team 17 published 12 games in the last year alone - and their expertise has made Team 17 a trusted name with companies in more than 13 countries.
Best Tech Business (up to 49 Employees)
Cevitr
Cevitr is a company that aims to free up the time and focus of other businesses, through the use of AI. The company has created a digital workmate called Jo, which can take on simple and routine tasks for the business, allowing employees to focus on more important and intensive tasks. Taking care of the process from implementation through to maintenance, Cevitr helps businesses become far more efficient and reach their full potential.
GAS Music Limited
Working in advertising, tv, gaming and more, GAS Music Limited is a music production company that works to create the perfect accompanying tune. With its own studio and record label, GAS is able to provide whatever music is required and handle licensing and rights in a snap. Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, the company decided to push investment in preparation for the end of the pandemic - updating its studio, taking on new hires, and launching a PR campaign. This decision paid off, with GAS already ahead of its 2020 YTD figures.
Q Energy
With a dedication to efficiency and environmental friendliness, Q Energy is determined to help consumers find a renewable energy provider that’s the best for them and the environment. The company provides an AI driven platform that can measure and manage energy usage - collecting large amounts of data and condensing them into an easy-to-understand dashboard. Customers can use this dashboard to stay informed and alter their energy consumption as needed - helping lower costs and emissions.
Best Tech Start-up - sponsored by InYourArea
Inevitable
Inevitable is a company that strives to bring companies into the future, by helping them make use of AI services in the running of their operations. With a team that has experience in development, data science, machine learning and more, Inevitable is able to create AI programs that meet the exact needs of clients, and help them take their business to the next level.
REXscan
With the massive increase over the last few years in people using apps to carry out a variety of important tasks, app security has become extremely important. Sensitive information can be at risk if an app is insufficiently secure - so REXscan makes sure that Android apps are airtight before they go on the market. The REXscan scanner checks an app for vulnerabilities and security risks - helping creators fix them before they become a costly production issue. In doing so, the REXscan saves developers money, and helps to protect the sensitive information of users.
Stream Sensing
Founded in 2020, Stream Sensing is a company that aims to make rheology - the study of the flow of a material - far more efficient and accurate in production processes. Stream Sensing provides sensors that collect and provide real-time information on fluid products - providing immediate and practical data, as opposed to laboratory-based results. This allows for greater accuracy and efficiency, helping companies improve their fluid quality control immensely.
Best use of Machine Learning and AI - sponsored by HOST
Avoira
Avoira is a technology solutions company that works in a variety of industries - and has recently developed an AI software designed to help customer service reach a new level of effectiveness and efficiency. Partnering with the AI voice analytics company Xdroid, Avoira implemented Xdroid software at various companies across the UK. The software analyses aspects of speech to interpret the emotional state of a customer - allowing operators to engage more effectively and helpfully. The software can also provide prompts to help lead the call.
Cyber Defence Services
Cyber Defence Services (CDS) is a company that works to help clients understand and navigate the increasingly complex world of technological signals. The increasing connection between smart devices of all kinds creates a network of constantly interacting signals and information - and understanding this information can be a huge boon to a variety of businesses. CDS has developed an AI platform that collects signal data and analyses it, providing information that could be used by any number of businesses, from construction companies to the military.
Inevitable
More and more businesses are trusting AI to take care of their operations, be it the carrying out of simple tasks or the analysis of market data. Inevitable is a company that wants to help as many businesses as possible reap the benefits of AI - producing bespoke AI programs for companies to meet their needs. Inevitable uses the wealth of experience its team has to help businesses both big and small reach the cutting edge of tech.
Best use of Technology - sponsored by Apex Computing Services
Juicy Media Ltd
Juicy is a company that provides technology solutions to other businesses - tailoring its approach to ensure that the specific problem is properly tackled, and the best result achieved every time. Working with Kane International Ltd, Juicy took a time-intensive administrative operation that was having negative effects on the business, and built an online management system for such tasks instead. In doing so, Juicy was able to reduce tasks that could at time take two weeks, to same-day turnarounds.
Morson Group
With more than 1000 employees and 12000 clients, Morson Group is a recruitment company that is dedicated to ensuring that they find positions that are perfect for both individuals and businesses. Finding paper-based recruitment processes to be inefficient and laborious, Morson developed Vencuro, a recruitment platform that allows for all parts of the recruitment to be done digitally. This makes the process much less cluttered, and also lets businesses and individuals check data from their placements, offering far greater insight.
Xpllore
Xpllore has used emergent technology to take a previously costly and at times inaccessible form of tech, and make it much more accessible. Using 5G, Xpllore developed a cloud platform that lets people stream virtual reality content to mobile devices and headsets. In particular, the ability to stream virtual content to phones opens VR to people significantly, where before it required a more costly and inefficient setup.
Female Tech Ambassador - sponsored by Amazon
Maria Sarkar - DriveWorks
Maria Sarkar founded DriveWorks in 2001 with Glen Smith - creating a design automation software that would automate computer aided design packages. Today, Driveworks has expanded - working in product configuration, sales configuration, and business process automation among others, alongside the original design automation software. In addition to her success with DriveWorks, Maria has been nominated for her unfailing commitment to providing opportunities for young professionals - giving talks in local schools, inspiring young women to take up careers in tech, and running annual placements for students.
Katie Gallagher - Manchester Digital
As manager of Manchester Digital, Katie Gallagher has worked tirelessly to help the region’s tech industry flourish. Manchester Digital is the largest trade body of tech business in the north - and in this capacity Katie has pushed for innovation and the further development of skills, in order to put the industry in as strong a position as possible. Katie has also taken a lead on the incredible important Digital Security Centre’s work to make the region cyber-secure.
Beverley McGowan - The Specialists Hub
With 20 years of experience as a business risk and resilience specialist, and currently studying for an MSc in digital and technology solutions, Beverley McGowan is always working to help businesses stay safe and thrive. Working with Lloyds Banking Group and The Growth Company, Beverley has secured funding for apprenticeships for small businesses, in the subjects of digital and cybersecurity. In securing this funding for businesses, she has helped them begin growing during a difficult time - and do so in a way that will ensure they are ready for the future.
Young Tech Ambassador
Hannah Davies - RoguePsych
Hannah Davies is one of the founders of RoguePsych, an online service that provides mental health and well-being materials to people who need them. The service is not intended as a replacement for any professional services, but rather collects and provides resources and tools designed to help people understand and work on their mental health. As a graduate of psychology, Hannah has brought her knowledge to bear in creating the creation of the service.
Khalid Tayan - Springchat
Khalid Tayan is the founder of Springchat, an app designed to react to and converse about anything - be it their hobbies, politics, or current events. Khalid was motivated to create Springchat by what he saw as the lack of a space where people could comfortably and calmly share their opinions, without the pressure of other social media sites. As such, he worked to create a platform where people could consume and discuss a topic in that moment, in the same place. In doing so, he hopes to provide a space for genuine conversation among people online.
Every one of our finalists has achieved something incredible over the last year, and used tech in new and exciting ways. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements at the 2021 awards, and we hope you’ll join us on May 20 to do so. To book a ticket, or for more information, visit the official awards website.
