2020 Judges

Sally Bailey has a 30-year career building, leading, and mentoring management teams in the consumer sector. Previously CEO of White Stuff, Sally now works as a non-executive director, chair and mentor. A lifelong advocate of business ethics, she chairs Pilotlight, a charity which connects businesses with not-for-profits to achieve positive social change. She is an Advisory Board Partner with the Future Business Partnership - a private equity firm who invest in ethical sustainable consumer brands to help them scale their business and their impact. Sally also mentors female founders of purpose-driven companies.

Rachel Bridge is the former Enterprise Editor of The Sunday Times and the author of eight books about entrepreneurs and personal development, including How to Start a Business without any Money and How to Make a Million before Lunch. She has an MA degree in Economics from Cambridge University.

Michael is a member of ECI’s investment team, joining in 2015. His investments include KB Associates, The Clear Group, MiQ and Edenhouse. Prior to ECI, Michael worked in investment banking at Canaccord Genuity and corporate finance at Deloitte.

CEMG founder and director since 2011, Scott lives for challenges, priding himself on a proactive and passionate approach to sales, marketing & business.

CEMG brands include the flagship UK leading platforms Elite Business, Elite Franchise and Elite Business Live offering range of content for supporting SME fast-track growth companies and digital marketing solutions. Elite Global, meanwhile, inspires UK entrepreneurs looking to export and build an international business.

A well known face in entrepreneurial circles as both host and speaker, Scott has also sales trained over 1,000 executives across multiple industries, as well as providing regular business consultancy for fast-track start-ups.

Winner of the Growing Business Innovation Award 2018, Anthony has always been obsessed with creative problem solving. As the founder and CEO of parking technology company JustPark, he is on a mission to solve the parking problem - making life easier for millions of motorists and leading a £50bn industry into the digital age at the same time.

Anthony is also an angel investor and advisor to multiple technology start-ups spanning the education, property, media and transportation sectors.

Joe formed The VaioPak Group back in 2008 with the belief that the food service packaging industry could operate in a more innovative manner; ensuring sustainability and being mindful of the environment. 11 years on, the group boasts an ever-growing high profile client portfolio, shipping to over 23 countries worldwide and offices located in both the UK and USA.

Darren has worked in debt and equity, having led mezzanine businesses at L&G Ventures and Barclays before Santander, giving him over 20 years’ experience in subordinated debt and a high profile in the market. Darren joined Santander in 2011 to create and lead the Bank’s Growth Capital proposition which is aimed at supporting high growth SME’s though development capital and M&A projects. To date, the team has completed over 270 investments, supporting some 160 businesses who have collectively created thousands of new jobs through their growth. Total new debt facilities committed through the programme is now in excess of £800m.

After achieving his goal of becoming UK Windsurfing Champion and with the list of injuries not getting any shorter John Hibbard decided to swap his windsurfing board for the board room and co-founded Red Paddle Co in 2008. Over the past 12 years Red Paddle Co has grown into a world leading premium Stand Up Paddle Board brand. With distributors in over 60 markets around the world the brand is going from strength to strength.

Harry set up his first business when he was 16, a football fan site network with 60 websites and over 500 global writers before starting Goat a few years ago and building his career. Goat is the leading influencer marketing globally. Since founding the company has grown from 3 to over 120 staff in four years, with offices in London, New York and Singapore and has worked with brands including BBC Sport, New Look and Malibu. Harry also takes a proactive approach to advancing the industry and regularly features at events and speaking panels.

Dominic is CEO and Co-Founder of Data Intelligence company, Captify - the largest holder of 1st party consumer Search Data outside of Google. Its unique technology understands the intent of consumers across all channels including Voice Search, Desktop onsite Search and in-app Search. Captify’s intent-rich data set powers advertising for many of the world’s largest brands; Apple, Adidas and Microsoft.

Captify has achieved explosive growth globally, $60m+ annual revenues and strong EBITDA growth, following raising $15m from Series A and B rounds. Captify trades globally with 250+ employees across 13 global territories including London, NYC, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Chicago.

Sean Longsdale joined Santander in June 2012 to build the Structured Finance business in the Corporate & Commercial Bank. Structured Finance incorporates five separate teams providing debt solutions to support companies undertaking M&A; IPO’s; Management Buy-Outs or Project Finance, as well as the Growth Capital team who focus on high growth SMEs. Sean has a particular passion for supporting high growth businesses and entrepreneurs, to deliver their visions and ambitions.

From leading Santander’s Trailblazers Research to spearheading Santander’s priority of helping high growth businesses – Sean is focused on finding the right funding solutions for high growth businesses in all stages of their development.

Dr Emer MacSweeney is a leading London neuroradiologist with experience in both the NHS and the independent sector. Currently, she is the CEO and Medical Director of Re:Cognition Health, where she was awarded the KPMG Entrepreneur of the year award in 2016.

Her previous posts include Director of Neuroradiology at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, St George’s Healthcare Trust and Managing Director at MedTel UK. Dr MacSweeney has a special interest in neuroradiology of cognitive impairment disorders with considerable experience in imaging of neurovascular diseases and traumatic brain injury.

Graeme is CEO and founder of M Squared, a leading developer of photonic and quantum technologies. Graeme oversees the development of a range of world-class laser and photonics systems, which are critical enablers in fundamental physics research, underpinning many world firsts. He is also instrumental in driving forward a range of new applications in quantum technology, biophotonics and chemical sensing with the aim of improving the lives of future generations.

Graeme is Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Fellow of The Royal Society Edinburgh, Fellow of the Institute of Physics and visiting Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde. Graeme was awarded an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen for his services to Science and Innovation in the 2015 New Year Honours list and The Swan Medal from the Institute of Physics. He also won the title Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2018 Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Sally Preston set out to develop baby food which was not only nutritious but also tasted good. She launched the world’s first frozen baby food brand – Babylicious – but it was operationally difficult for the supermarkets to put freezers in the baby aisles, so she turned her attention to children’s snacking.

In 2009, Sally launched the first Kiddylicious snacks; the range rapidly grew and diversified into all snacking occasions from first weaning wafers to healthier choices for older toddlers.

Sally was crowned UK Business Woman of the Year 2018/19.

Vic is VP of Global Comms at digital consumer intelligence company Brandwatch. Previously, Vic was the MD at B2B agency Man Bites Dog and has over 20 years of comms and marketing experience in a range of growing businesses.

George Moss is a Partner and Head of the Consumer sector at ECI Partners. As a growth-focused investor, it is an exciting time to be investing in this sector. The increase in use of online distribution, outsourced business models and creativity in branding and customer proposition is helping to create successful and profitable consumer companies with big growth ambitions.

Andrew founded Imagineear a decade ago in his basement office. The company is still headquartered in Fulham, but partners with visitor attractions all over the world, providing large screen and handheld media experiences to visitors in their own languages. Imagineear designs and builds hardware, SAAS software, immersive content and advisory services, and clients range from the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and Kennedy Space Center in Florida to major sports venues across Europe. Andrew has an MBA from Insead, a BA in Engineering from Oxford and has worked with several large media companies in the UK and the US.

As MD of O’Donovan Waste Disposal, Jacqueline O’Donovan is a leading force in the waste and construction industries and is a keen advocate of sustainable operations, a pioneer of industry best practice and road-safety as well as encouraging diversity and inclusion in the sector. She has received numerous accolades and holds a number of respected fellowships and affiliations with professional organisations and bodies in the sector. She is the current recipient of the Growing Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year title as well as the Women’s Economic Forum naming her as their Woman of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership.

Mayank Patel OBE, Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Azibo Group, has achieved success on five continents in financial services, having sold his company Currencies Direct to Palamon Capital Partners and Corsair Capital for over £200 million in late 2015. A member of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), Mayank has won numerous awards including Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asian Business Awards 2016, listing as one of Britain’s top 100 entrepreneurs by Management Today and his services to entrepreneurialism and mentoring earned him an OBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He is on the advisory board at Cranfield University and is the Leadership Mentor in Residence at Birmingham University, helping and advising budding student entrepreneurs. He has also been involved with a number of charities and both he and his wife Jigna Patel have invested time and cash in projects in India, especially in those helping children. Mayank is also a member of the British Asian Trust UK Advisory Council.

Martyn is currently the CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union and sit on the British and Irish Lions and 6 Nations boards.

Martyn is Chairman of KB Associates a Dublin based ECI backed business, that provides independent management and consulting services to asset managers.

Martyn is an Independent Director of Bionic which is also ECI backed. Bionic is a tech enabled advisor to SME’s with the aim of optimising the procurement of business services.

previously CEO of B & Q for the UK and Ireland and sat on the Kingfisher operating board.

Mathew is a successful and highly respected global travel and leisure leader with significant experience across multiple industry sectors, business models and geographies.

He has led and grown some of the most iconic experiential leisure brands across the globe, ranging from Crystal Ski, the UK’s largest ski tour operator, to Sunsail & The Moorings, the worldwide leader in yacht charter vacations based in the USA.

He is currently CEO of TrustedHousesitters, a unique sharing economy marketplace disrupting the pet care and travel industries through the facilitation of relationships based on trust and community.

Neill is an engineer who has over 20 years’ experience in the engineering industry covering a host of industry sectors including Oil & Gas, Aerospace and Motorsport. Under Neill’s leadership, Versarien was incorporated in 2011 and in June 2013 the company listed on AIM . Versarien’s mission is to create new materials suitable for commercial use. To date, Neill and his fellow directors have been quick to realise the potential of innovative technologies, including the

new ‘wonder material’ graphene and to capitalise on this. Neill sits on the Board of the GFirst LEP as a non-exec director.

Neil Russell is Chairman of PJCare, a family owned specialist neurological care provider, founded by his mother, Jan Flawn CBE. Neil left a career in the Diplomatic Service to join PJCare as Home Manager of Bluebirds, their first home, just before they opened in April 2001. Since then he has worked in many roles across the Company, becoming Chairman in January 2016. Neil has worked in almost every position in the organisation and played a key role in the Company’s development, including all of PJCare’s new builds and is currently leading the next exciting phase in the Company’s development.

Suleman started The GP Service following an exit from his last start-up 99p Shopper. The company partnered with Palmer & Harvey in a £150 million deal.

The GP Service has received over £6 million. The company is now live in over 1,600 Pharmacies with a GP Solution that turns pharmacy consultation rooms into Virtual Doctor Surgeries.

Suleman was named, Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the year in 2012,2013, Entrepreneur of the Year 2014. Lloyds Banks, Young Entrepreneur 2015. Growing Business Awards Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2019.

Suleman starred in BBC Series Million Dollar Intern and Pocket Money Pitch.

John became Weightmans’ Managing Partner in 2013 and was re-elected for the second time in 2018 until 2022. John joined Weightmans having been a CEO of a listed public company in the entertainment industry.

During his time on Weightmans’ Board, John has overseen the firm’s acquisitions, opening of new offices, overhauled the partnership remuneration structure and seen the firm’s overall revenues rise from £43.8m in 2007 to £100m.

Consistently accredited both in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a leading individual in corporate work, clients have recognised John as having a “pragmatic and commercially realistic approach”.

Wendy is a mum of 3, an award winning mumpreneur, traveller and the visionary energy behind Tots to Travel, a fast growing business whose unique approach provides stress-free holidays for families with babies and toddlers. Wendy and her team believe that holidays are fundamental to making families stronger and that business can be a strong force for good by making positive impacts in the world.

The story began after Wendy’s two-year-old son Barnaby fell into an unenclosed swimming pool whilst on holiday; she identified an opportunity to offer genuinely family-friendly holidays - a concept that has taken baby and toddler holidays to a new level in giving parents total peace of mind.

Today the business has a portfolio of its own concept resorts across Europe, a raft of family friendly villas and is set to continue in its mission to provide seamless, safe and wonderful holiday experiences.

Wendy believes deeply that family holidays are important and that creating precious memories together as a family to look back on is a true goal in life. The learnings from Wendy’s entrepeneurial journey can be found in her book, ‘The Mother of Invention’.

Rupa is a trailblazing, successful, Multi-Award Winning Serial Entrepreneur, Founder, CEO, Investor and Mentor for 15 years. She has founded a myriad of disruptive and pioneering companies and is a thought leader in PropTech, TravelTech, Blockchain, Beverages & Architectural/Designer Real Estate arenas globally. Recent awards and accolades include; next year’s judge for Amazon Scale Up Awards, which attracts over 700 guests and previously judged by Dragon’s Den Piers Linney and Lady Michelle Mone OBE, The Props, Management Today’s Inspiring Women, EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Nominee, Successful Women In Business, DigiLeaders100, Woman Who Achieves and Business Elite’s 40 under 40.

With over 20 years immersed in the hair and beauty sector, Paula Short has firsthand experience with the common opportunities and pitfalls involved in business start-ups. Paula is a co-founder of Beauty Boulevard Ltd and a BBC Dragons’ Den survivor. Throughout her career she is continually walked the tricky line of work, life and motherhood tightrope.

The cosmetic market is one of the most competitive markets on the planet, but driven by a passion for adventure and a love for make up, Beauty Boulevard strive to create desirable products and now successfully supply their ranges across the globe.

Emma focuses on new and existing investments within Bridges’ Sustainable Growth Funds strategy, which partners with high growth, purpose-led companies to help them scale-up their operations and impact. Two investments she is particularly passionate about (and sits on the board of) are Vegetarian Express, which helps over 4,000 chefs create great plant-based menus, and Impact Food Group, a specialist contract caterer with a mission to ‘feed more pupils better food’ across the 200 UK secondary and primary schools it currently serves.

Prior to joining Bridges in 2015 Emma spent ten years working with high-growth companies, as a member of the investment team at Phoenix Equity Partners, with a start-up in Hong Kong, and at Deloitte as a strategy consultant. Emma studied Modern History at Oxford.

disguise CMO Christian Vaughan is an experienced executive-level marketing and product adviser, who has been instrumental in achieving rapid award-winning growth for several tech start-up companies.

Christian provides disguise with expert digital and GoToMarket strategy guidance and experience. As with many technology companies he has been part of, Christian has helped disguise achieve many industry accolades, including ‘Times Tech Track 100’ (No 57) in 2018, through various digital marketing and E-commerce developments. Most significantly, he has been a team player in disguise’s colossal financial growth from £2M to £33M in his 48 months with the company.

Andy Whitworth has engineered iconic mechanical handling and kinetic architecture projects around the world for over 40 years.

He created SCX Special Projects in 1992 to concentrate on bespoke mechanical handling solutions for diverse and demanding industrial sectors.

In the last decade, Andy delivered numerous high-profile projects to global acclaim. These include:

- Retractable roof over No.1 Court at Wimbledon (he also did the one over Centre Court in 2009);

- World’s first dividing retractable pitch at Tottenham Hotspur;

- Cranes for the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class warships;

- Unique robotic solution to help build Crossrail’s platforms;

- In all, over 400 bespoke projects.

Sean is an entrepreneur who is dedicated to brilliant vocational training that genuinely improves productivity and profitability.

His expertise is in training, business creation, evidence-based policy, systems, incentives, productivity, technology, human potential, ideas and delivery.

Sean started his career in the employment support sector. Since then, he has worked in research, policy, business development and operational management for some of the largest, most successful public service providers in the UK. Sean has managed businesses turning over in excess of £75 million and directly and indirectly employing over 900 staff.

Sean founded and is the Chief Executive at Corndel Ltd.

Josh Wilson is an executive producer, entrepreneur, Forbes Under 30 list maker and philanthropist. His company, Wilson Worldwide Productions, has had programmes air in 150+ countries. Josh has also worked with established talent such as Dame Helen Mirren and Tom Hiddleston. Josh was an Executive producer on Mission Mudder and Chasing the Dream for Sky, and Saving Our Beautiful Bali for BBC and has worked with brands including Jeep and Lucozade. WWP’s most recent project with Ximalaya gained 60+ million listeners. Josh often speaks about the need for diversity in the workplace and is tackling this through his charity Genisys.