Express & Star Business Awards 2025: Meet the finalists - Young Business of the Year Award

This award, sponsored by Gough Group, is open to any business which has been operating for five years and under. Judges will be hoping to see an overview of why the business launched and the gap in the market at that time, along with your future plans and vision.

DAE Energy Solutions

DAE Energy Solutions in Brierley Hill was founded in February 2020 to meet a growing need for smart, efficient, and customer-focused Building Management System (BMS) solutions.

The business identified a clear gap in the market - while demand for energy efficiency was rising, many service providers were limited by fragmented delivery models, a mindset to use the latest smart technology while often forgetting the basic principles of a BMS system, or reactive service models.

In just five years, DAE Energy Solutions has evolved from a two-person start-up into a trusted, high-performing business delivering multi-million-pound BMS projects across the UK.

"DAE Energy Solutions is a young business with a big impact. In just five years, we’ve built a team, a reputation, and a business model that’s reshaping how buildings are managed and powered," said director of operations Rob Ordish.

"We’ve proven that smart growth, sustainability, and quality can go hand-in-hand. Winning Young Business of the Year would be a recognition of what’s been achieved — and a springboard for what’s still to come."

Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn

Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn in Brewood, Staffordshire, is a wild, open space for children from tinies to tweens to be whoever and however they want to be. 

The business opened in March 2024 projecting 50,000 people to enter through the doors for the first year - but so far they have greatly exceeded expectations as 70,000 people flocked through the doors in the first year. This has been bolstered by parties becoming a main stay of the barn and due to the rising popularity, they have now added a second party barn and now have party bookings logged for December this year.

Hockerhill was created as a farm diversification business for the Chillington Estate, to bring resilience to the annual income. As a family, they spotted a gap in the market for families to interact and play in a safe and enjoyable location. Focusing on the quality of their food and beverage options, leading them to be a nominated finalist in their first year for a National Farm Attractions Award for their offering.

Hockerhill’s commitment to delivering high-quality services while prioritising sustainability and ethical business practices sets it apart from others. Moreover, the leadership team has shown remarkable vision and dedication, leading to strong customer satisfaction with a 46% returning visitor rate.

PLAY@ Lower Drayton Farm

PLAY@ Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge, officially launched in 2020, born from the Bower family’s long-standing passion for farming and desire to bridge the growing disconnect between the public and the countryside. At a time when children’s access to green spaces and knowledge about food production was rapidly declining, we saw a unique opportunity to create a visitor attraction that wasn’t just fun—but meaningful.

The vision was clear: to develop an all-weather, family-friendly attraction that blended adventure play with hands-on farming experiences, offering education, entertainment, and a strong sense of place. We wanted to show children where their food comes from, introduce them to life on a working farm, and create shared memories that would leave a lasting impact.

In under five years, PLAY@ has grown into one of the Midlands’ most dynamic visitor attractions. The company's success is underpinned by rapid growth, consistent reinvestment, and a commitment to evolving based on customer feedback.