New company Morgan Collins has won the top prize at the Essex BIG Business Boost competition awards with their revolutionary product to counter bed wetting. The competition launched by Essex County Council’s (ECC’s) Essex Innovation Programme (EIP) aims to identify and support Essex’s most promising entrepreneurs and micro businesses.
Morgan Collins realised there was a gap in the market for absorbent nightwear in place of nappies for incontinent children and adults. The company created ‘Gecko Magic Sleepwear’, a washable range of pyjamas with an absorbent lining, to protect against bed wetting and remove the stigma associated with incontinence.
"It’s such an honour to have received the Essex BIG Business Boost award that recognises the hard work and dedication that we have put into our business. This is a real milestone for Morgan Collins and the cash reward and support will take us to the next phase of development of our product."
Lucy Morgan, Co-Founder, Morgan Collins
About The BIG Business Boost Competition
The Essex BIG Business Boost competition aims to find and support Essex’s most exciting business ideas and concepts. It is funded by Essex County Council (ECC) through the Essex Innovation Programme (EIP) who works with small and large companies to help them drive innovation into their businesses.
The initiative saw tens of thousands of pounds of business support and training and £5,000 in cash prizes go to small businesses in Essex. It was delivered by business enterprise agencies across Essex and attracted more than 200 entries.
“We are really pleased to have supported this work in helping people with great business ideas access the professional help they needed to develop those ideas.”
Helen Quinnell, Enterprise Project Officer, the Essex Innovation Programme
Encouraging entrepreneurs across the county
The Essex Innovation Programme is continuing to help the top three the winning companies.
Morgan Collins has had assistance with a prototype, product and branding design as well as securing a patent and accessing funding - Second place prize winners, Stansted-based GreenAir Cars, a taxi service dedicated to seriously reducing carbon emissions, is currently working with an EIP mentor to get their product integrated in the marketplace
- Third place premium food company Dan Hull Prepared Foods, a supplier to Selfridges, have so far received assistance with business planning and product innovation
About the Essex Innovation Programme
The Essex BIG Business Boost competition builds on EIP’s ethos to help entrepreneurs and small businesses develop and take to market, their innovative products and services.
"ECC’s Head of Enterprise, David Adlington, spoke at the awards ceremony about the success of the competition in identifying and supporting exciting business talent across the county. “Essex County Council is delighted to be involved in the Essex BIG Business Boost. The competition has helped ECC engage with innovative small businesses and helped them access the high quality business support which can be so important in achieving sustainable success.”
David Adlington, Head of Enterprise, Essex County Council
Source [The Essex BIG Business Boost]
