Sarah McVittie

With a desire for information on the go, Sarah and her business partner Thomas Roberts decided to create Textperts in 2005, when they were employed as Financial Analysts at an investment bank.

Research is mainly undertaken by home-based Texperts, who find that sport, science and entertainment are the most popular question categories, as well as that favourite British obsession - the weather!

Texperts now receives thousands of texts a day and has seen average month-on-month growth of 22 per cent, with word of mouth providing to be the most effective marketing tool.

The company has won several accolades, including the 2005 Shell Livewire Award (East of England), 2005 Global messaging Award, the 2006 Natwest Startups Award (best use of Technology) as well as being recognised as the Best Angel-backed Business with Young Management for 2006.

This year, Sarah and her team received the Orange Best Use of Technology in Business Award and Textperts was also highly commended in the Business Innovation of the Year Award at the National Business Awards.