Innovate Orthopaedics is a born-and-bred Huddersfield business which is based in the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. The company is the latest business to be awarded the Eaton Smith Business of the Month Award.

Innovate Orthopaedics was created in 2015 by Alex Gutteridge and Hannah Longbottom who saw an unfulfilled need in the medical device world. Their aim was to create a business that worked directly with customers to design products they actually wanted and operate in a nimble manner bringing products to market faster than their larger competitors. In just over a year Innovate Orthopaedics was able to design, prototype, manufacture, test and bring to market their first product. They also gained the all-important CE mark which meant that they could sell their product. Their products are used by orthopaedic surgeons to repair knee ligaments in NHS Teaching Hospitals, District Generals and Private Hospitals across the UK, Northern Ireland and, more recently, New Zealand.

Phil Clarke, Partner at Eaton Smith and member of the judging panel said; “The judging panel was impressed with their financial success in a short time and the forecast for future growth. The application demonstrated that the founders had spotted a gap in the market which they are now fulfilling through their expertise, experience and hard work. The business also makes an important contribution to the region by preferring to deal with local businesses and also raising the profile of Huddersfield while serving customers in London, Belfast, Manchester and Auckland.”

Alex Gutteridge, MD of Innovate Orthopaedics commented; “This is an exciting time for our business. There is huge interest in our products and we are experiencing rapid growth. We have plans to expand our office in Huddersfield and our personnel in order to cope with the demands of our growing business. We are delighted to have our hard work recognised by being awarded the Business of the Month Award.”