Woolcool named Innovator of the Year and wins triple honours at 2026 Innovation Excellence Awards
They were revealed at a ceremony held at Stationers' Hall on 23 October 2026, celebrating organisations and individuals driving innovation across the communications, content, manufacturing and technology sectors.
This year's awards attracted a record number of entries and introduced a new Manufacturing Innovation category, reflecting the breadth of innovation taking place across the industry. Woolcool emerged as the standout winner, securing Innovator of the Year, as well as the Product Design and Manufacturing Innovation awards for its LifeGuardian solution. Judges said LifeGuardian exemplifies everything the awards seek to recognise, combining originality, technical excellence, commercial impact and innovation with purpose.
Commenting on this year’s winners, Ian Legget, Master of The Stationer’s Company, said: “I am particularly delighted that this year introduces a new manufacturing category. Manufacturing lies at the heart of the Stationers’ heritage, and the outstanding quality of entries this year demonstrates how innovation continues to drive the sector forward.”
The category winners of the 2026 Innovation Excellence Awards are:
- Business Process: Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection for Protected at Print
- Communications & Engagement: Barley communications for Fighting AI Cloning Scams (National Trading Standard)
- Customer Experience: Kids Invent Stuff for The Invention Shed
- Education technology: Habitat Learn Group Ltd for Podium
- Manufacturing Innovation: Woolcool for LifeGuardian
- Product Design Award: Woolcool for LifeGuardian
- Startup Award: PulpaTronics
- Special Recognition Award: Rebel Stationery for Handmade Palestine Textile Collection
Co-chairs Kate Howell and Vida Barr-Jones said: 'We felt their work represented something broader than a start-up, a sustainability initiative or even a product innovation. It embodied the very spirit of innovation itself: using business as a force for positive change.”
Innovator of the year: Woolcool for LifeGuardian
Pearson, one of the sponsors of this year’s Innovation Excellence Awards, welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the winners. Hayley White, VP Assessment, Standards and Services at Pearson, said: “Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Learning from each other is invaluable and that’s why we are so proud to sponsor these awards. Together, the innovations we shape are challenging what’s possible and changing lives for decades to come.”
For more information about the awards and this year's winners, visit HERE.
