CHESTER-BASED business Impact Score has been announced as a winner of the annual Octopus Entrepreneur Awards.

Impact Score is an app designed to measure thousands of products against key sustainability goals, giving customers a real, independent, visual and instant indication of whether the companies values are aligned with the consumers.

Impact Score was nominated by City of Chester MP Chris Matheson.

Ian Yate, managing director of Impact Score, has a vision to use technology to take action for people and the planet.

By winning the award, Ian Yates will receive £5,000 worth of scale-up advice from experts within Octopus. They also had the opportunity to meet with their MP last week to celebrate the thriving entrepreneurial community and spirit in the UK.

Ian Yates said: “This is a fantastic accolade. Not only for the team who have worked tirelessly on the journey, but also for our customers and partners who have helped shape the app.

"More than 80,000 eco-conscious shoppers have downloaded our app so far, and 83% of users tell us they have changed their mind about buying a product after seeing its sustainability score in our app.

"This is why we do what we do! We make it easy for people to make better, sustainable choices when doing their shopping.

"We're really looking forward to working with CWaC and the Octopus team to improve the app by personalising it for users, and helping retailers and brands make their products more sustainable. Given the current state of affairs, we can’t afford not to.”

Chris Matheson MP said: “It was fantastic to hear the news that Ian and the Impact Score team had won this award, it is richly deserved.

"Impact Score’s aim to use technology to help people become more sustainable and in turn take action to help our planet, is a true demonstration of the innovation, entrepreneurship and brilliance we have here in Chester.

"It has been a tough few years for businesses. Ian and the team should be extremely proud as they are a great credit to our city. Huge congratulations.

"Also, a massive thank you to Octopus for running these awards and for their continued work to promote renewable energy and support entrepreneurs across the UK.”

Octopus set up the awards to celebrate fantastic entrepreneurs across the UK who have thrived during the last year.

The awards celebrate small and medium sized businesses making a positive impact in their local community.

Following a large number of entries, winners were chosen by a panel of parliamentarians and entrepreneurs including Katherine Fletcher MP, who set up her own business before becoming an MP; Jimmy McLoughlin OBE, Presenter of Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future podcast; Karen Taylor, Founder of Parent Cloud; Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers; Darren Jones MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee; and Octopus co-founder, Chris Hulatt.

Chris Hulatt, co-founder of Octopus, said: “When we asked Members of Parliament to nominate entrepreneurs in their constituency, we didn’t anticipate just how many fantastic entries we would receive.

"The awards are a great way to celebrate local entrepreneurs with their MPs and highlight some of the brilliant work they have been doing.

"As a company that works closely with many entrepreneurs, it has been interesting hearing the winners’ business journeys. I look forward to welcoming the winners to Octopus for the day later in the year.”