Nik Hardy has been announced as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, sponsored by the University of Staffordshire.

Nik Hardy has led Burton-on-Trent signage specialist Hardy Signs for more than three decades, growing it into a business with a £3.7m turnover and clients including the FA’s St George’s Park, the NHS and Muller. When Covid hit, he pivoted rapidly into Perspex safety screens, floor distancing graphics and branded sanitiser units, keeping the business closed for just six weeks.

His approach to leadership is equally deliberate. Nik reduced working hours by 30 minutes a day with no pay cut, introduced quarterly performance bonuses, and built a transparency-led culture that has driven strong retention. His longest-standing commitment is the Hardy Signs Sign and Print Academy, established in 2016 with Burton and South Derbyshire College, where nearly a third of current staff began their journey. In 2021, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the College in recognition of that work.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Nik Hardy has been building Hardy Signs for over 30 years and the business is stronger, more innovative and more people-focused than ever. His response to Covid, his investment in his team’s working conditions, and his decade-long commitment to the Sign and Print Academy at Burton and South Derbyshire College all speak to an entrepreneur who thinks about the long term. We are delighted to recognise him as a finalist.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026, followed by The After Party, a late-night celebration for finalists, winners and partners.

To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.