Blackburn-based start-up Deaf Village North West has been named a finalist ahead of the North West Final of the Start-Up Awards.

The Start-Up Awards has been launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK which has accelerated since the pandemic.

More than 800,000 new businesses have been founded in the UK since 2021, an increase of 4.3 per cent from the year before.

A record number of businesses applied to this year’s Start-Up Awards, with 1,100 firms shortlisted across 10 UK regions.

The contribution of these firms, all of which were started in the last three years, is significant, having created more than 5,000 jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £584m.

Deaf Village North West is a deaf-lead organisation that provides specialist D/deaf services and promotes inclusivity, and which was founded by Debra Cartlidge in 2021.

The business has been nominated for: Consumer Services Start-Up of the Year; Innovative Start-Up of the Year; Lancashire Start-Up of the Year; and Social Enterprise Start-Up of the Year.

Founder Debra said: “All the staff and clients within Deaf Village North West are delighted and astounded to have been nominated and recognised for this national award, and to not only have been shortlisted in one but four catergories.

"It means so much to us to see the Deaf Village on the map and celebrated for the services we provide for an often-overlooked group within society.”

The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, creator of the Start-Up Awards, said: “Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and in supporting communities in every nation and region across the UK.

"All of 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 an amazing new business that is creating real impact in its sector.”

The Start-Up Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. It is running for the second year after launching in 2022.