News / Bristol Braille Technology
Assistive technology company receives £60k boost
A not-for-profit Bristol company dedicated to serving blind communities has won a competition with a £60k prize.
Bristol Braille Technology has been recognised as the winner of the first-ever Sage Small Business XI competition.
As a reward, the Bedminster-based company will get advertising support, business advice, and an association with the 2024 edition of the cricket tournament, the Hundred.
Former England cricketer Stuart Broad formed part of the judging panel and surprised Bristol Braille with the news of their victory at their office BV Studios on Philip Street.
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Ed Rogers, founder and managing director of Bristol Braille Technology, said: “Everyone on our team is incredibly excited and honoured to be selected as the winner of the Sage Small Business XI competition with The Hundred. And what a surprise to get an unscheduled visit from Stuart Broad to our workshop!
“This is an opportunity to promote cricket, including visually impaired cricket, and demonstrate the flexibility of our Braille display technology for blind people in all fields of life.
“Sport should be accessible to all and we’re grateful to Stuart, the ECB and Sage for recognising the work that we and our community of Braillists are doing.”
Stuart added: “It’s been fantastic to be involved with Sage and with such a great competition that rewards small businesses.
“There were some exceptional entries and I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing them all. It was extremely tough to choose just one winner.
“As a small business owner myself, I have directly experienced the many issues facing small business owners across the nation and understand how this prize could be life changing.
“Bristol Braille were a real standout candidate and I can’t wait to see how they use the prize to take their business to the next level.”
Bristol Braille hopes that that winning the competition will enable the company to get blind adults across the country reading, sharing images, and even watching sports matches on digital tactile tablets – photo: Bristol Braille
The competition was launched global technology company Sage to provide “monumental, life-changing” support to one winner as well as prizes for ten runners up.
Three businesses – including Bristol Braille – made the final shortlist, with Stuart having a deciding vote.
Managed by both blind and sighted people, Bristol Braille manufactures a range of “revolutionary” new Braille reading devices called Canute.
Bristol Braille’s victory means they will receive 12 months’ worth of prizes and support, including hospitality and match tickets, mentoring from Sage small business experts and the England and Wales Cricket Board, access to high profile cricket talent to help promote their business, as well as publicity and brand exposure, worth more than £50,000, at cricket grounds around the UK.
Main photo: CSM
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- Educational tech firm wins prestigious business award
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