A couple who converted their company van into a mobile office to reach schools during lockdown and help teachers remotely teach children, have been shortlisted for a national business award.

Steve Sinnott, 39, and partner Hannah, 35, run IT support firm Pentre Tech, based in Holywell, and during the pandemic they ensured primary school IT systems kept running so children could learn from home and staff could teach effectively.

And the family firm - Steve's dad Ron does the accounts - became heroes to several schools across the North West, and particularly in Liverpool, during last year's lockdown.

Seeing the need to ensure safety for staff and pupils, they converted their van into a mobile workshop complete with its own internet and electric in order to work on-site without needing to enter classrooms.

Using existing IT equipment in the schools, the team - including fourth member, engineer Liam O'Neill - repurposed them into Chromebooks allowing those without a device at home to be able to access their learning.

As well as keeping school systems up and running, Steve at one point even chased nationwide firm Openreach when a school's broadband system collapsed – and after eventually getting through to speak to CEO Clive Selly, several engineer vans turned up at the school the next day to fix the problem.

Now they're finalists in the first ever Business Champion Awards in London (Wednesday, March 23) - in the Champions in a Crisis category - hosted by BBC TV News presenter Huw Edwards.

Steve, who has been working in IT for 20 years, said: "We are thrilled to have been nominated as a finalist in the Business Champion Awards. Our primary objective has always been to go above and beyond in order to ensure children and teachers have the IT service they need.

"While we're only a small, family company, I think that's what sets us apart from others, giving schools the personal touch,"

Jamie Long, deputy head, Runnymede St Edward's Primary School, Liverpool, added: "It's hard to put into words how amazing Steve and his team were - and even harder to quantify the amount of time and money they saved us.

"They worked tirelessly in their pursuit of technological systems to help bridge the gap between school and home learning. Without it, children had little access to work, play and friendly faces."

Richard Alvin, awards director, Business Champion Awards, added: "We're holding these inaugural awards on the anniversary of the first Covid lockdown, which was the start of an unprecedented time for businesses up and down the country.

"Steve and Hannah's story is an inspiration to all – they should be very proud of how they kept children and teachers working while the country experienced such an unsure and worrying period.

"The last two years has proved more than ever that whatever is thrown at British business we can respond."