A HARROGATE mother who created an innovative new product for the baby market is in the running to receive £30,000 worth of government support as part of a national competition.

Claire Mitchell's business Chillipeeps has been named as a Yorkshire & Humber winner of the GREAT Faces of British Business competition.

Chillipeeps started when Ms Mitchell had forgotten a clean sterilised bottle to feed her baby. She asked why no one had invented a teat that can attach directly to a readymade formula carton.

She patented the idea straight away and created the Chillipeeps adapter that attaches a teat or spout directly to all ready-made formula cartons and some ready-made formula and some mineral water bottles.

Named Most Innovative in Yorkshire & Humber, Chillipeeps is now in the running to win the national competition and the top prize of £30,000 worth of government support.

Ms Mitchell said: "We’re thrilled to have been selected as a regional winner in the GREAT Faces of British Business competition.

"There’s a wealth of innovative small and medium-sized businesses out there and it’s great to be recognised as one of them by the competition."

The winners will be decided by a combination of judging and public vote. You can vote for your GREAT business at www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/competition

The national competition consists of the regional winners from the three categories: best exporter, most innovative business, and best growth story. The grand prix winner, selected by a national judging panel, will also be announced in March.

The prize includes a bespoke creative advertising campaign worth £30,000, along with an iPad Air and unlimited BT Wi-Fi for 12 months, courtesy of BT Business, which sponsors the competition.

In addition, the winner will also receive a package of export support from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), which works with UK businesses to help them succeed in international markets and supports the Business is GREAT Britain campaign, with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: "I’m delighted to see the GREAT Faces of British Business competition celebrating the small businesses up and down the country that form the bedrock of economic growth.

“Chillipeeps is a brilliant example of a successful small firm run by enterprising and hardworking people. We are backing them all the way and, with the advice and support on offer, there has never been a better time to start and grow a business in the UK."