Neon Play a mobile games studio based in Cirencester, which creates iPad and iPhone games for The Apple Store has been named as Start-Up Business of the Year 2011 in the Nectar Business Small Business Awards. The judging panel consisted of business experts, including businesswoman and star of BBC1’s The Apprentice, Karren Brady.

Run by Nectar Business, a loyalty programme designed to help small businesses by offering them the ability to earn rewards on everyday business expenditure, the Nectar Business Small Business Awards were started in 2009 to recognise the cream of Britain’s small business talent. Neon Play will receive £2,000, together with 50,000 Nectar points and a trophy to recognise its achievement.

Oli Christie, the founder of Neon Play, started the business in June 2010 following a successful career designing games for over 200 global brands. In less than a year the business has grown to employ 13 people, with over 21 million downloads of its apps. Oli has ambitious plans for further growth within the booming mobile games market, including producing games and apps for Android platforms and a new publishing division.

For more information visit the Neon Play homepage