South Coast Tech & Innovation Awards - 2026 Winners

Innovators and tech firms from across the region came together at the Leonardo Royal Southampton last night for the seventh annual South Coast Tech & Innovation Awards – supported by headline sponsor Spectrum IT Recruitment.

Hosted by The Business Magazine in partnership with Insider and compered by longtime Gadget Show host Jason Bradbury, the awards recognised achievements across 12 categories, including from start-ups, SMEs, rising stars, and tech giants.

Special thanks to Spectrum IT Recruitment, alongside sponsors Azets, BDO, Blake Morgan, D Young & Co, Infinigate Cloud, Shaw Gibbs, University of Southampton Science Park, and Womble Bond Dickinson.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was the event's charity partner.

AI Innovation of the Year

Sponsor: Spectrum IT Recruitment
Winner: SkyBound, presented by Paul Grace - Account Director at Spectrum IT Recruitment
SkyBound stood out to the judges for applying AI in a way that is both meaningful and potentially lifesaving. Turning aerial data into actionable intelligence, its technology can identify risks sooner, prevent accidents and protect people, combining technical innovation with genuine real-world impact.
Shortlisted:
Comp AI
Crumb
Nigel by Beyond Encryption
Onecom Halo
ScanNeo
SkyBound
Widgety AI Cruise Assistant

High Growth Tech Company of the Year

Sponsor: BDO
Winner: Crumb, presented by Matthew Carter, Tax Director at BDO
The judges were impressed by Crumb's exceptional momentum, combining rapid international expansion with product innovation, strong recurring revenue growth, and smart technology investments to build a scalable platform for future success.
Shortlisted:
CloudTech24
Codestone
Crumb
My Local Surgery
NOC Innovations
Vizst Technology
Xperate

Innovative Tech of the Year

Sponsor: Azets
Winner: E:BAG, presented by Amy Harper, Regional Managing Partner - Solent Region at Azets
Barnbrook Systems, the company behind E:BAG, impressed the judges with its combination of engineering excellence and genuine innovation, developing safety-critical technologies that solve real-world challenges. Its scalable, patented solutions demonstrate measurable impact across aerospace, defence, rail and beyond.
Shortlisted:
Circular Computing
Crumb
E:BAG
Labl.it
Nigel by Beyond Encryption
RevoPCI
ScanNeo
SkyBound

Large Tech Enterprise of the Year

Winner: Codestone, presented by Phil Clark, Founder, Embedded IT & Tech Solent
The judges praised Codestone for tangibly demonstrating multiple proactive initiatives in the way they manage culture, customer satisfaction, and team development, all while executing a number of acquisitions.
Shortlisted:
Codestone
Procode

Managed Service Provider of the Year

Sponsor: Infinigate Cloud
Winner: Trusted Technology Partnership, presented by Craig Gordon, VP Sales at Infinigate Cloud UK&I
Trusted Technology Partnership was chosen by the judges for its outstanding NHS expertise, pioneering proprietary software, remarkable 92 per cent growth, and employee-owned culture – combining innovation and excellence to deliver transformative healthcare projects with meaningful, lasting impact.
Shortlisted:
Bespoke IT Solutions
Blue Frontier
CloudTech24
entrustIT
Silver Lining Convergence
Trusted Technology Partnership

Outstanding Achievement Award

Sponsor: D Young & Co
Winner: Dr Adam Hill, ComplyAdvantage & PyData Southampton, presented by Alan Boyd, Partner and Patent Attorney at D Young & Co
The judges hailed Dr Hill's ability to turn technical expertise into practical public benefit – building data science communities, supporting charities through pro bono work, and advancing AI tools against financial crime.
Shortlisted:
Dr Adam Hill, ComplyAdvantage & PyData Southampton
Damian Gevertz, Widgety
David Manners, Sumillion
Mark Butler, Procode
Paul Holland, Beyond Encryption
Dr Victoria Aragon, Absolar

Rising Star in Tech Award

Winner: Damian Bemben, Ada Mode, presented by Natalie Haigh, Technology Strategist and Mentor, Mentoring Entrepreneurs & Presenter on Voice FM
Bemben stood out to the judges as selfless, engaging and inclusive. He has shaped Ada Mode, built community, 3D-modelled Southampton's neighbourhoods for social, interactive design, and backed Southern Creative Catalyst. Next up for him – a leading UK AI role.
Shortlisted:
Damian Bemben, Ada Mode
Hayley Evans, Vodafone Business
Lewis Carhart, Comp AI
Louisa Denly, IBM
Matthew Dixon, Circular Computing
Sapir Yaakov, Aveni

South Coast Tech Company of the Year

Sponsor: Blake Morgan
Winner: SkyBound, presented by Liz Bell, Partner at Blake Morgan
The judges praised SkyBound's outstanding success in driving business growth and delivering innovation with both commercial and societal impact, while remaining true to its core ethical values and maintaining a strong commitment to staff engagement. They were particularly impressed by the inspirational leadership, ambition and vision demonstrated throughout the organisation.
Shortlisted:
Circular Computing
Codestone
Crumb
Labl.it
Procode
SkyBound
SumillionVizst Technology

Tech Employer of the Year

Sponsor: Spectrum IT Recruitment
Winner (under 50 employees): Vizst Technology, presented by Steve Wright, Director at Spectrum IT Recruitment
Vizst demonstrated to the judges a people-first culture backed by measurable results, from strong retention and internal progression to significant investment in professional development. Combined with flexibility, diversity and Great Place to Work recognition, it has created an environment where people can thrive.
Winner (over 50 employees): Xperate, presented by Steve Wright, Director at Spectrum IT Recruitment
In just five years, Xperate has achieved remarkable growth while keeping its people firmly at the heart of the business, the judges noted. Its international culture of trust, flexibility, recognition and opportunity, alongside strong retention and progression, made it a standout employer.
Shortlisted:
Barnbrook Systems
Codestone
DataSIM
HBTech
ITDev
Sumillion
Trusted Technology Partnership
Vizst Technology
Xperate

Tech for Good Award

Sponsor: Womble Bond Dickinson
Winner: Absolar, presented by Ian Holden, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson
Absolar's renewable energy technology has moved beyond innovation, noted the judges, and is now making a real and meaningful contribution towards net zero that will benefit us all.
Shortlisted:
Absolar
Codestone
Crumb
Mailock by Beyond Encryption
Removing Barriers to Justice
Sumillion
Wildflower Co.

Tech SME of the Year

Sponsor: Shaw Gibbs
Winner: Labl.it, presented James Waters, Associate Director at Shaw Gibbs
Labl.it has combined innovation and commercial progress, said the judges, developing its core product and securing patents. Its technology helps kitchens improve efficiency, reduce waste and risk, and strengthen compliance.
Shortlisted:
Bespoke IT Solutions
Canary Care
DataGardener
Labl.it
NOC Innovations

Tech Start-up of the Year

Sponsor: University of Southampton Science Park
Winner: Comp AI (not in attendance)
Comp AI's impressive growth, significant investment and rapidly expanding customer base made them a standout winner, said the judges, demonstrating strong commercial momentum and an exceptional track record of success to date.
Shortlisted:
Comp AI
Crumb
Graft
ScanNeo
TROUVE MedTrack

This article was originally shared by Insider Media, and can be found here