Two young entrepreneurs from Lancashire have won a national award, benefitting from a £5,000 grant.

From a battery powered, mobile seat raiser which helps people sit and stand more easily, to a tool for electricians to reduce waste when they are wiring, the Lancashire innovators promise to make the world a better place.

Conor Walsh, 23, from Clitheroe, is a trained electrician, and winner of Apprentice of the Year in the Innovate UK Young Innovator Awards.

He created Reelhelp, a tool for electricians to reduce waste when they are wiring. The device goes round the electrician’s waist so they can pull out the exact length they need.

Abigail Devenney, 23, from Preston, created It’s Just For Me to fight swelling after non-surgical procedures, like lip-fillers. Her aim is to educate users on how to stay safe.

The Young Innovators competition received almost 700 applicants this year, up 25 per cent on the previous year.

The standard of ideas led Innovate UK to award more than 50 per cent more winners this year (94 vs 63), making this the largest cohort of Young Innovators to-date.

The Lancashire winners will take a share of the £1.25 million prize fund.

They join 92 other young people aged 18 to 30 with business ideas that could change the world and will benefit from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.

The Young Innovators Awards recognise young people with great business ideas who have the potential to become successful entrepreneurs and future leaders in innovation.

In addition to the awards, Innovate UK delivers workshops and briefing events to provide practical business advice to a network of over 12,500 young people across the UK.

Emily Nott, head of equality, diversity and inclusion programmes at Innovate UK, said: “The level of creativity, passion, and commitment to positive change within our society and environment in this year’s Young Innovators Award winners is beyond inspiring.

“Knowing that Innovate UK is creating opportunities and providing support to enable these young people from a wide range of different backgrounds across all parts of the UK to grow and develop their businesses makes me very proud.

“With the financial uncertainty this year brings, it’s fantastic to see these entrepreneurs starting businesses that will improve the world and boost innovation in the UK. We can’t wait to see what they will achieve next.”

Indro Mukerjee, chief executive of Innovate UK, added: “The Innovate UK Young Innovators program is an important part of our many activities to strongly develop the talent pipeline needed to further drive our innovation nation.

"I warmly congratulate all the Young Innovators Award winners and look forward to keeping in touch as they progress."