A WIRRAL business making sustainable activewear is on the shortlist for a North West UK StartUp Award.

Well Fit Active is among 900 businesses shortlisted and the contribution of these firms - all of which were started in the last three years - is significant, having created nearly 6,000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £480m.

The Port Sunlight-based sustainable activewear company has been nominated for the Fashion & Beauty StartUp of the Year Award in the North West.

Its founder, Sarah Hall said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted in the StartUp Awards. Well Fit was born from a need to provide the plus size community with activewear to move in, where big brands fail to provide garments that fit and perform for women in larger bodies (like mine).

"Our unique top designs offer support, coverage and thoughtfully designed features such as breathable, sweat-wicking panels and a secret waist shapewear panel.

"We have a strong commitment to sustainability, using recycled and recyclable fabrics and keeping our carbon footprint low (and supporting other female-owned UK-based businesses) by manufacturing in the UK.”

Supported nationally by ScoreApp, GS1 UK, Starling Bank, OVHcloud, GiftRound, Airwallex, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.

The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The winners from each region will then be invited to the first UK final taking place at Ideas Fest, the Glastonbury for Business festival in Tring, Hertfordshire on September 12 2024.

The StartUp Awards were launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK which has accelerated over the last few years with over 900,000 new businesses founded in the UK in 2023, a 12% increase from the year before.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said: "Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and wealth creation across the UK.

"All the finalists this year represent the best of those entrepreneurs who have spotted an opportunity and through their sheer hard work, talent and perseverance, have created amazing new businesses that are creating real impact in their sectors.

"Building on the success of previous years, we are now looking to identify the ‘best of the best’ with all the finalists who win their category in their region going on to represent their region at the first ever UK National StartUp Awards final later this year”.