Two businesses from the East of England are set to represent the region at the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards in March, after winning the East heat in Colchester yesterday.

CJS CD Keys – East heat’s Best Start-up

CJS CD Keys, Essex-based provider of ‘game keys’ – an activation code from game publishers which allows gamers to get legal digital downloads, was the winner in the Best Start-Up category, which recognises a business in its early stages.

DuoFertility – East heat’s Best Enterprise

Meanwhile, DuoFertility, a Cambridge-based service provider that helps couples with problems starting a family to conceive naturally, took home the prize for Best Enterprise. The Best Enterprise award goes to the business judged to show real potential for growth over the next five years.

Dr Shamus Husheer, CEO of DuoFertility, said: “It’s a great honour to have been recognised in this way. As academics ourselves, our usual accolades are publications showing the effectiveness of our research in helping couples to get pregnant, so to win a business award is brilliant. It shows that the other aspect of what we do; building a sustainable business and developing our employees is equally important to us.

“Winning the award has come at a perfect time for us, as we have just got approval to operate in the US. The financial reward that comes with the competition will go towards expanding our operations in the UK and in the US to help couples throughout the world to start their families.”

Corey J Smith, winner of the Best Start-Up award and founder of CJS CD Keys, said: “I feel honoured to win this award – I started the company from my bedroom when I was 16, I’m now 18 and we are the second biggest game key seller in the world, so recognition for this is brilliant.

“Taking home the Best Start-Up award will be a huge boost for the reputation of my business. When people see that CJS CD Keys has won this accolade, it will really help to build credibility and trust.

“Aside from the monetary prize, the mentoring and legal advice will really help my business to expand. The years of experience of the mentors that will provide me with guidance will definitely be a real help to achieve my expansion aims to grow in size.”

As the winner of the Best Start-Up, CJS CD Keys, has secured a cash prize of £1,000, whilst the Best Enterprise winner, DuoFertility, will be taking home £5,000. Both winners will also benefit from two years’ mentoring from senior Lloyds Banking Group representatives and free legal advice from an independent specialist law firm.

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