Technology

Posted on July 29, 2016 by staff

Digital entrepreneurs of the year with a social conscience

Technology

Reason Digital co-founders Ed Cox and Matt Haworth are passionate about working exclusively on projects with a positive social impact.

Established in 2008, Reason Digital now employs 40 staff and has a turnover of £1.1m – with 55 per cent growth over the last two years.

The agency works on projects for charities, social enterprises and the public sector along with Corporate Social Responsibility work.

Since the duo shared the digital entrepreneur of the year DEA in 2015, Reason Digital has attracted new staff and set up new business units.

“We see awards such as these not as an end point, but rather as another step on our journey,” Cox explains.

“The award has been critical in us being co-shortlisted for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (North Region), again alongside some impressive businesses.”

Space 48 says winning a DEA last year “was great for business” while mental health organisation Big White Wall found that theirs increased the profile of their work.

Rebmark found recognition outside the legal professional to be a great source of pride while long-established Irish sportswear manufacturer O’Neills was recognised for using e-commerce to move up a level in recent years.

Younger businesses Digital Six , The Whisky Exchange, Mubaloo and PushON have kicked on since winning at the DEAs.

The DEAs are coming to Manchester’s Palace Hotel on November 9th.

The awards champion the country’s finest digital entrepreneurs and businesses and are now in their 12th year, with a total of 17 awards up for grabs.

New judges in 2016 include:

  • Steve Purdham, chairman and founder, 3Rings Care
  • Claire Braithwaite, tech advisor at Manchester Growth Company
  • Richard Law, chief executive, GB Group
  • Paul Bason, Director Digital Innovation, MMU
  • Jess Jeetly, Founder and MD, JEETLY

Other confirmed judges include Lawrence Jones, CEO and co-founder of UKFast; Jonathan Wall, controller, Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra; and Tom Bloxham, chairman and co-founder, Urban Splash.