SealStop, the Yorkshire-made automatic shut-off valve designed to eliminate water waste and save gardeners’ time, has won this year’s GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund award.

The team behind SealStop were officially handed the award during the opening day of Glee 2025, the garden retail show, at Birmingham’s NEC.

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

With hosepipe bans and water restrictions in place following the driest year since 1976, the multi-award-winning SealStop has arrived at exactly the right moment.

Born out of a simple frustration – forgotten hoses and flooded yards – SealStop is now helping households, gardeners and smallholders across the UK make every drop count. The clever device connects to a standard hosepipe using a quick-connect fitting.

Simply place the hose into a trough, barrel or container and walk away. SealStop shuts off the flow at the right moment, preventing overflows and wasted water. With no need for timers, electronics or constant supervision, it’s a simple, reusable, British-made solution for smart water use.

Belle Richardson commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund. It’s a wonderful 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.

“This support from GIMA will make a real difference, helping us grow faster, reach more people, and share the benefits of SealStop with the gardening community.”

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.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, commented: “It was a tough judging day as all the shortlisted entries had great merit and real commercial potential. It took us all day to decide on our eventual winner. SealStop stood out as a product that not only solves a problem that haunts gardeners and smallholders but also brings genuine environmental benefits. We are excited to support Isabelle and her team as they bring this innovation to a wider market.”

As the tenth recipient of the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund, SealStop has received an extensive prize package designed to help fast-track its growth. This includes free exhibition space at Glee, alongside up to £4,000 of tailored support covering design, development, consultancy, manufacturing or marketing.

The prize also offers a free half-page advert in the GIMA New Product Digest publication, 12 months of free GIMA membership, one year’s ACID (Anti Copying in Design) membership, and ongoing PR support.

For more information about SealStop and the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund, visit www.gima.org.uk and www.sealstop.co.uk.