UK's Top Tech Entrepreneurs Celebrated at the 2026 Enterprise Awards

Discover the winners of the 2026 Enterprise Awards as the UK's leading technology entrepreneurs and founder-friendly investors are recognised for driving innovation and business growth.

Britain's thriving technology sector took centre stage in the City of London this week as some of the country's most innovative entrepreneurs and investors were recognised at the 2026 Enterprise Awards.

Held at the prestigious Drapers' Hall on 1 July, the awards celebrated the founders, business leaders and investors helping to shape the next generation of high-growth UK technology companies. Now in its 14th year, the Enterprise Awards has become an important fixture in the UK's innovation calendar, highlighting businesses that are solving real-world problems through technology, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Since the awards were launched, almost 120 entrepreneurs have been recognised. Collectively, their businesses now generate more than $3.1 billion in annual revenue while employing around 18,000 people worldwide, demonstrating the significant impact that British innovation continues to have on the global economy.

The evening was opened by Enterprise Awards founder John O'Connell, Executive Chair of ScaleUp Group, alongside Tola Sargeant, Chair of the Judging Panel and CEO of Archives of IT, and Paddy McGwire, Senior Partner at Silverpeak. Entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders gathered to celebrate the individuals and organisations driving the UK's technology ecosystem forward.

This year's winners reflected the breadth of innovation taking place across the country.

Laura Earnshaw of myHappymind was named Social Enterprise Entrepreneur, recognising the company's work supporting children's mental wellbeing. Helen Murphy of Opply received the Applied AI Entrepreneur award, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence in solving business challenges. Sean Williams of AutogenAI won Scale-Up Entrepreneur, while Thomas Garnett and Vlad Galu of Refute secured the Emerging Entrepreneur title. 

Stephanie Eltz of Doctify was recognised as Developing Entrepreneur, and Michelle He of Abound received the prestigious Enterprise Entrepreneur award.

One of the biggest additions for 2026 was the introduction of the Founder Friendly Funds recognition. Eighteen investment funds were honoured for backing ambitious UK technology businesses, collectively making almost 400 investments worth around $600 million during 2025, covering everything from Seed funding through to Series B investment.

Tola Sargeant praised the exceptional standard of entries, saying this year's winners demonstrated commercial success alongside innovation, leadership and a commitment to creating lasting impact.

John O'Connell added that both the entrepreneurs and the newly recognised investment funds represent the people and organisations helping to shape the future of UK technology by supporting ambitious founders over the long term.

At a time when the UK continues to compete on the global technology stage, the Enterprise Awards offer a timely reminder that great ideas, backed by visionary founders and supportive investors, remain one of the country's greatest strengths.

https://www.enterprise-awards.co.uk

Deal signed with Innovation Group after successful pilot

German insurer DEVK has signed a three year contract with Innovation Group to use its Innovation Symbility Mobile Claims software, part of the Innovation Symbility Suite. The deployment follows a successful pilot phase.

Innovation Symbility Mobile Claims is a field-based scoping solution optimised for mobile devices to make qualified assessment of property claims on site. From January 2012, all DEVK adjusters will be able to create estimates with electronic support and complete accurate assessment of the claim speeding up the claims settlement process.

“By using Innovation Symbility Mobile Claims software, DEVK expects to increase customer satisfaction levels, as well as assure better documentation and improved efficiency from our adjusters” said Günter Kalkowski, head of property claims at DEVK.

“This new partnership with DEVK is an important milestone for bringing Innovation Symbility Suite onto the German market. With this opportunity we will be able to demonstrate the added value of Innovation Group’s software and outsourcing solutions for both insurance clients and other companies in the value chain. Our products allow closer collaboration between service providers and their customers while at the same time improve customer service levels and reduce costs.” said Robert Thomson, managing director of Innovation Group in the UK and Ireland.

With 1,200 offices, 2,270 tied agents and more than 4,000 part-time agents, DEVK is a number four property, number five motor and number six casualty insurance company in Germany.

From its German office branch in Stuttgart, Innovation Group specialises in outsourcing solutions for insurance companies, fleet operators and garage networks. The company has partnered with more than 3,000 service providers.
Innovation Symbility Suite is a service model consisting of three core software components:

• Triage – enables claims management teams to scope claims accurately and consistently, in turn providing adjustors and service providers with an accurate picture of the claim before their first visit.
• Symbility.net – a powerful data management hub that records and tracks all claims data, including supplier information and reporting on claims and customer experience.
• Mobile Claims – field based scoping solution that actively syncs with the data management hub to share claim information, eliminating replicated data and reducing rework and duplication.

www.innovation-group.com

Bosch goes for Innovation Group

Innovation Group has been selected by Bosch Car Service to manage and run a new online booking system for its UK network of independent garages.

A new service will be launched as a result of the deal, enabling customers to book their vehicle for servicing, repair or MOT at a participating Bosch Car Service garage near their home or workplace.

“The new partnership with Bosch Car Service is an important endorsement of the breadth and quality of the outsourcing solutions that Innovation Group provides to motor manufacturers, fleet operators, distributors and garage networks. The tools we offer enable closer collaboration between service providers and their customers in a way which enhances customer service and reduces costs at every step in the value chain,” said Simon Hall Managing Director of UK Motor Services of Innovation Group.

Bosch Car Service is a global and nationwide network of quality independent garages which offers each member the power of a premium brand, a partnership with a leading automotive supplier and access to a wide range of technical expertise, marketing and commercial practices.

The Bosch Car Service network also work to a Consumer Code of Practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading, in order to deliver excellence in customer service. The existing network garages provide maintenance, repairs and diagnostic service as well as air conditioning for all vehicle makes and models.

“Bosch Car Service wants to help garages grow their business through delivering top quality technical solutions in terms of parts and engineering, along with outstanding customer service. The new online booking service with Innovation Group will help us deliver more business into the network, making good sense for car owners and the garages,” said Howard Price, of Bosch Car Service.

Innovation Group provides wide range of software and outsourcing solutions to insurers, fleet, automotive and property businesses across five continents. Existing customers in the automotive sector include Ford and Tesco.

www.innovation-group.com