Scayl Founder Scott Woodhead Shortlisted for Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2026
We're delighted to share that one of our brands, Scayl, has reached another exciting milestone. Founder Scott Woodhead has been shortlisted for Product & Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year at the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2026, recognising the remarkable growth of the business and the team behind it.
Often described as the "Grammys of Entrepreneurship", the Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the founders behind some of the UK's most ambitious and innovative businesses. To see one of our brands recognised on such a prestigious stage is something we're incredibly proud of, and it's another exciting chapter in Scayl's journey.
Reflecting on the news, Scott said:
"Being shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is a huge honour, but this recognition also belongs to the whole team. We've built Scayl by continually learning, evolving and challenging ourselves to do things differently. Seeing how far we've come makes me incredibly proud, and I'm even more excited about where we're heading next."
It All Started with One Machine
Scayl's story didn't begin with fully automated production lines or bespoke manufacturing solutions.
It started with a single packaging machine, originally purchased to pack our own tea in the early days of the business.
That one machine sparked an idea.
As we learnt more about packaging automation, we realised there was an opportunity to help other businesses overcome the same production challenges we had faced ourselves. That idea became Scayl, a brand built around helping manufacturers work smarter through automation.
From there, the Phil range was born, offering reliable, easy-to-use packaging machinery that helped businesses take their first steps into automation.
Growing Alongside Our Customers
As our customers grew, so did Scayl.
What began as supplying standalone packaging machines has evolved into designing and delivering complete automation solutions. Over the last few years, we've continued to invest in expanding our machinery portfolio, introducing new technologies and building partnerships with leading manufacturers from across the world.
Today, Scayl offers everything from filling, weighing and packaging machines through to fully bespoke, integrated production lines, tailored to each customer's individual requirements.
Our customers' challenges have become more complex, and we've embraced that challenge by continually learning, developing our expertise and expanding the solutions we can offer.
An Exciting Time for the Business
It's fair to say that this is one of the most exciting periods in Scayl's journey.
The business has continued to grow, working with larger manufacturers, delivering increasingly ambitious automation projects and expanding into new sectors.
Along the way, we've strengthened our product ranges, welcomed new team members and continued investing in the knowledge and expertise that allows us to offer more complete solutions than ever before.
Rather than standing still, we've always looked for ways to improve, whether that's expanding our machinery portfolio, developing bespoke systems or finding better ways to support our customers.
That commitment to continuous improvement has helped position Scayl as an exciting emerging competitor within the UK automation and manufacturing sector, one that's proud to do things a little differently.
Innovation Driven by the Team
Behind every machine, every automation line and every successful installation is a dedicated team.
Over the past year, that dedication was recognised when Scayl won the Innovative Packaging System award at the PPMA Awards, a fantastic achievement that reflected the creativity, collaboration and technical expertise across the business.
Whether it's engineering, project management, sales, operations, marketing or customer support, everyone has played a part in Scayl's growth.
As the business has evolved, so has the team. Together, we've embraced new technologies, adapted to changing customer needs and continued building a business that never stops learning.
This latest recognition at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is another milestone that celebrates not just entrepreneurial success, but the collective effort of the people behind the brand.
Looking Ahead
While this shortlist is an incredible achievement, it also feels like the beginning of the next chapter.
Scayl continues to expand its range of automation solutions, work with exciting customers and develop bespoke systems that help manufacturers improve productivity and prepare for the future.
As part of the YOLO Inc family, we're incredibly proud to see one of our brands continue to grow, innovate and make its mark within the manufacturing and automation industry.
David Martin, Sales Director at Scayl, added:
"It's been amazing to see how Scayl has evolved over the years. What started with one machine has grown into a business delivering complete automation solutions for manufacturers across the UK. Every challenge we've taken on has helped us learn, improve and expand what we're capable of delivering. The biggest reason for that success is the people. The whole team has embraced the journey, adapted as we've grown and worked incredibly hard to build something we're all proud of. Scott's shortlist is fantastic recognition, but it's also recognition of everything the team has achieved together."
Congratulations to Scott and everyone at Scayl on this fantastic achievement.
From packing our own tea with a single machine to delivering bespoke automation solutions for manufacturers across the UK, it's been an incredible journey so far, and we can't wait to see where it goes next.