Smarta award for Folded Wing Productions

London based indie Folded Wing Productions have been named among the UK’s most innovative companies in the 2012 Smarta 100 awards.

The awards, run in conjunction with O2, recognise small businesses which are mould-breaking, dynamic and make a significant difference in their industries. The judges include Dragon’s Den regulars Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis.

Folded Wing, who were voted “Indie of the Year” at the Radio Academy Production Awards in 2011, make audio and video content for a range of commercial clients, as well as producing weekly radio shows for the BBC and the British Council. Amongst their BBC productions are Jamie Cullum’s Jazz Show and Gloria Estefan’s Latin Beats for Radio 2 and a range of documentaries and series for Radios 2, 1 and 1Xtra.

They were founded in 2005 as Karen P Productions by former Radio 1 producer Karen Pearson. The company now employ eight people at their studios and offices in Farringdon, East London.

Commenting on the award, Karen Pearson told RadioToday.co.uk: “I’m really pleased that Folded Wing have been included on the Smarta 100 list, it’s a recognition of all the passion and imagination that the team put into every project, whether it’s a programme for a national BBC network, or a podcast for a commercial client”

The finalists in the Smarta 100 awards currently generate revenues of more than £200 million a year and employ more than 1,100 people. More than a quarter are female-run businesses and two thirds are self-funded, with just 9% borrowing from a bank.

The overall winner of “Business of the Year” will be decided by an online public vote on the Smarta 100 site. The winning company will receive £10,000 towards a nominated project; Folded Wing say that, if they are successful, they will spend the money on a series of “flash-mob” style pop-up radio stations at iconic locations around the UK. Voting is open until November 2nd.