Kevin Holdridge, Kevin Bragg, Andrew Ward, Colm Croskery, Paul Duncan

From a life-saving motorcycle helmet cutting tool, to a new technology that can detect and monitor myeloma, MedilinkWM’s highly competitive Medical Healthcare Awards has turned the spotlight on five groundbreaking enterprises that will represent the region on the national stage.

At a glittering awards ceremony, MB Safety Ltd, which has developed a novel device to rapidly remove the chinstrap from motorcycle helmets enabling emergency services to give life-saving treatment, triumphed in the Start-Up category, sponsored by the Innovation Factory.

Worldwide Solutions Ltd, which diversified from the retail to the medical market, supplying a unique hands-free Wi-Fi based communications technology to improve efficiencies in hospitals, won most significant Growth in Sector, while Mediwatch UK Ltd, which develops unique diagnostic devices, beat of fierce competition to take the top prize for Export Achievement.

The Binding Site, which developed Freelite, an immunoassay for the detection of serum free light chains to monitor multiple myeloma, scooped the award for Innovation, sponsored by Chapman Molony, as Kent House, which developed the EventManager software for healthcare services, took the highest honour for its success in breaking into the NHS.

Created to recognise the most impressive business achievements from the Midlands’ thriving medical technology community, the awards are sponsored by Advantage West Midlands and supported by ADF Insurance. At the Council House in Birmingham, the guest speaker Dr Kevin Jones followed the presentations of the prestigious awards, which are dedicated to businesses that have achieved exceptional research, innovation, business success, entrepreneurial flair and growth in the sector. Each winning company will now go forward to the national Medilink UK Awards in February.

MedilinkWM’s CEO, Tony Davis, said: “The Medical Healthcare Awards have been a spectacular celebration of the innovation and enterprise that’s on show in the West Midlands and it’s great to see so many successful companies taking part this year. The standard has been the highest ever, so it’s an amazing achievement to win. It’s testament to the hard work, passion and innovation of companies in this sector that so many important technologies are represented here, many of which now enable medical staff to treat patients even more effectively – they really could help save lives. As a growing sector, medical and healthcare companies are attracting the best brains in the region, which was clear to us tonight as we saw the calibre of finalists and of course, the success of our winners.”