LIMB-art wins Manufacturing Start-up of the Year
LIMB-Art, which designs and makes ‘the world’s coolest prosthetic leg covers’, has won the Manufacturing Start-up of the Year at the 2021 Wales Start-up Awards.
The annual awards showcase the best new businesses in Wales and is open to companies under three years old.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, who founded the Wales Start-up awards in 2015, said: “The creativity, innovation and sheer hard work demonstrated by all the finalists suggests that entrepreneurial talent in Wales can overcome almost any barrier and thrive in the most difficult of conditions.
“Not only have many of the finalists for this year’s awards had to change their business model because of the pandemic, but they have also helped the efforts of the NHS and contributed to supporting their local communities.
“Whilst all of them are wonderful examples for others to follow in their footsteps as we emerge out of the pandemic, I am particularly delighted that Limb-Art has again been recognised as the Manufacturing Start-up of the Year.
“Mark’s story is not only an inspiration to so many other people, but his business is already set to become a major player in its sector by providing a high quality product that meets the specific needs of the market. I look forward to following his story as it progresses over the next few years.
Mark Williams, founder of LIMB-Art said: “We are immensely proud to have won this prestigious award and it felt extra special for being our first live event in over 18 months of lockdown. Sharing the experience with 650 other people and receiving their applause was really emotional for us.”
LIMB-Art was established in 2018 by Mark, a former Paralympic swimmer, to design and manufacture prosthetic leg covers after he lost his own leg in a cycling accident.
The company recently won a contract to supply the whole of NHS Wales with its products.
Every adult amputee in Wales now has access to a free LIMB-art cover through the country’s prosthetic centres in Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.
Unlike foam prosthetic leg covers, which were traditionally available on the NHS, LIMB-art’s leg covers can be easily sanitised. They are designed for all users of above knee and below knee prostheses.
LIMB-art has won numerous awards over the years including the national Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for 2020 at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.