Winners of Breaking the Mould 2025 revealed

The winners of Keele University’s Breaking the Mould awards have been revealed.

Around 200 guests attended the event in the University’s Smart Innovation Hub, where awards were given out in more categories than ever before.

The awards shine a spotlight on the growing innovation-led organisations, businesses, not-for-profits and charities that have benefitted from the suite of innovative support programmes that are available from Keele University.

This year’s awards were hosted by Keele alumna and College of Fellows member Manali Lukha, who works for ITV News and is head of the Millbank Studios in the heart of Westminster.

The winners are:  

• The Listening Centre, winners of theHealth and Wellbeing award, sponsored by Théa Pharmaceuticals Limited;

• GivEnergy, winners of theSustainable Futures award, sponsored by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust;

• Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, winners of theSocial Inclusion award, sponsored by New Vic Theatre;

• Hixon Group, winners of the Digital Futures award, sponsored by Caja;

• Concentric Solutions, winners of theStudent Placement and Project Provider of the Year, sponsored by RSK;

• bet365, winners of the Graduate Employer of the Year award, sponsored by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce; 

• Sempar, winners of theGoing for Growth award, sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough council (highly commended – PH Production Services); 

• Hollie Franks (More Than Just Design), winner of the Placement Student of the Year, sponsored by Concentric Solutions (highly commended – Ishraat Bhuiyan, Toyota Motor Engineering);

• Apnea-Tech Ltd, winners of the Leading Innovation award, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council;

• Dr Colin Rigby and Dr Charlene Greenwood, winners of theOutstanding Academic Collaborator award, sponsored by Lucideon;

• EM Resolutions, winners of theKUSIP Company of the Year award, sponsored by Biocomposites (highly commended – Mondrem Group);

• Biocomposites, winners of thePartnership of the Year award, sponsored by British Business Bank.

On receiving the Partnership of the Year award, Dr Keira Watts, Clinical Research Director from Biocomposites, said: “Our partnership with Keele has grown over 20 years – from 11 people starting out in a small portion of IC4 in 2004, to now manufacturing the world’s only calcium matrix for treating bacterial infection locally in bone and soft tissue. We are now employing over 560 people in ten countries; supporting over one million patients in 100 countries, and still being led from our headquarters in Keele.

“Winning the award is a fabulous recognition of the enduring partnership between us and the University, and we look forward to our next phase of growth together.”

Since launching in 2019, the awards have now recognised more than 100 businesses, organisations and individuals for their innovation, ingenuity and success, celebrating the creativity and collaborative spirit of the area’s business community.

Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, said: “The calibre of nominations received for this year’s awards has again been very impressive, with so many remarkable and inspirational stories from all corners and sectors of our region.

“We’re delighted to be acknowledging those outstanding collaborations across 12 categories, ranging from innovations in health and wellbeing, sustainability, and digital, through to the fostering of the exciting talent and UK-leading employability that our 13,000 students can deliver to employers both now and in the future.”