The Progress Group scoop two accolades in Edge Hill University’s NW SME Growth and Innovation Awards 2022

The Progress Group (TPG) were delighted to win two awards at Edge Hill University’s recent NW SME Growth and Innovation Awards 2022. The prestigious awards, which were scored independently and assessed against achievements within a specific context to each business, celebrated the growth and innovation successes of businesses across the North West.

The Progress Group were Highly Commended in the Growth Strategy category which recognised SMEs who have grown through the implementation of a highly effective business strategy. In addition, the Group also won the Outstanding Achievement Award which is given to a shortlisted company who the judges felt had demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to embrace their innovation by changing culture and practice to progress themselves, their organisation, their staff, and their community.

The Progress Group has been working with Edge Hill University’s Productivity & Innovation Centre since 2021. During this time, they have been supported to complete the Innovation Sprint Programme with the specific desire of creating a multi-disciplinary software ecosystem to nurture a young person’s potential through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This new delivery method enables Progress Schools to deliver a learner centric virtual learning solution, meaning even the hardest to reach young people can access an Alternative Education provision.

The project will now move in to a second phase of development which aims to use artificial intelligence to help shape personalised learning and delivery.

Progress Group CEO Jayne Worthington said: “We are elated and overjoyed with our success at the NW SME Growth and Innovation Awards. Getting a Highly Commended Award in our category for Growth Strategy was amazing. To be recognised for Outstanding Achievement on the night was an absolute shock – but one we are very proud of.

“We would like to say a big thank you to the Edge Hill University team who worked with us. You have been fantastic, patient and generous with your time, and guidance on this ongoing journey.”

The awards required The Progress Group to demonstrate impact and success in product and service innovation, leadership, job and skills creation and adoption of new technology. They were the only business to win two awards on the evening.

Associate Director of SME PIC Professor Simon Bolton said: “The awards are a great opportunity for the SMEs that we have worked with to demonstrate their business success and showcase the impact. The work we do with businesses is pivotal to the development of highly-skilled job opportunities for our students and supporting academic knowledge exchange. Well done to all the shortlisted SMEs and winners.”

For more information on the work of The Progress Group please visit: theprogress-group.co.uk