Multi award-winning SealStop triumphs again

SealStop, the ground-breaking automatic shut-off valve designed to eliminate water waste and save gardeners’ time, has triumphed in a major Yorkshire awards competition.

SealStop was invented by Yorkshire farmers Jason and Belle Richardson of Pocklington.

The multi-award-winning business has won the Newcomer of the Year category in Yorkshire Business Insider’s 2026 Made In Yorkshire Manufacturing Awards.

The judges of the awards commented: “This outdoor water-saving device addresses a market need, with sustainability a core theme across the business.”

The judges also highlighted SealStop's strong commitment to local manufacturing and applauded the company's expanding international sales footprint.

These awards celebrated the most innovative and dynamic manufacturing companies across Yorkshire and the Humber and the products they are making there and selling across the world.

The glittering black-tie ceremony was held at Royal Armouries Hall in Leeds and compered by Rich Williams. The winners will go forward to the national Made in the UK Awards in November.

This award follows hard on the heels of Sealstop being recognised as one of the UK’s leaders in sustainability-led manufacturing, when it was selected as part of the Green Growth 100, an initiative launched by Small Business Britain in partnership with BT to spotlight small businesses successfully using sustainability as a core driver of growth.

The Green Growth 100 champions 100 small businesses across the UK that are embedding sustainable practices into their operations - from cutting waste and energy use to rethinking supply chains, attracting new customers, and strengthening long-term resilience.

Founded in 2024, Sealstop has been led by Jason and Belle who have placed sustainability at the core of the business. Through hard work and commitment to a green agenda, the business has shown how responsible practices can deliver both environmental impact and commercial success.

On winning the Made in Yorkshire award, Belle said: “This is a very special award for us. We were up against some very strong competition and were absolutely over the moon when we heard we had won. This is a massive endorsement for SealStop at the beginning of what is proving to be a very important – and successful – year for us.

“This wonderful award will make a real difference, raising our profile across Yorkshire and further afield and sharing the benefits of SealStop with the gardening and equestrian community.

“Both this award and our inclusion on the Green Growth 100 underline our burgeoning reputation as one of the UK’s leaders in sustainability-led growth. This is a powerful acknowledgement of why we created SealStop in the first place. We were tired of wasting water whenever life got in the way, so we developed a solution that gives people time back and encourages smarter water use, especially during dry spells when conservation is vital.

Originally launched in the equestrian market, SealStop is now finding fans in gardens across the UK. Proudly manufactured just 45 minutes from York, it’s also the first in a growing range, with rainwater harvesting tools currently in development.

Belle commented: “What an extraordinary and wonderful past 12 months it has been, culminating in these two accolades. From winning multiple awards for exceptional customer service and for business and ecological innovation to TV appearances, podcasts and pitching in front of incredibly talented people, it's been full on. These high-profile triumphs are massive votes of confidence in what we are doing.”

Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and founder of Small Business Britain, said: “The Green Growth 100 celebrates the small businesses that are showing sustainability and growth go hand in hand. These businesses are not only reducing their environmental impact, but also strengthening their operations, engaging customers, and building more resilient business models. SealStop is a brilliant example of how sustainability can fuel long-term success.”