HSBC START-UP-STARS: ALL BRIGHT ON THE NIGHT

The keynote speech was given by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who stressed the importance of encouraging skilled, high-value small businesses to the economy as it grows after recession.

The bright young team behind Artica Technologies, which designs and manufactures an environmentally friendly air conditioning system, won the Graduate Award, while the International Award went to Power Cable Services, a

specialist engineering company ensuring that sub-sea connections deliver a smooth energy supply. 

HSBC’s Green Award was scooped by Becothings, a maker of eco baby and pet products, including a compostable dog bowl.

The three companies received £10,000 each and all the winners shared a further £11,000 of free advertising and follow-up mentoring from Google. But it was the UK Foodhall that most impressed the judges — especially the way Karen McQuade, an expert in food and nutritional guideline compliance, and Robert Clark, formerly of Bernard Matthews, applied their sector expertise to make the cost margins viable and create lasting change.