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Each year the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur competition seeks out inspirational UK companies that are using technology to steer their business forward. 

The judging panel, which includes ‘Dragon’s Dens’’ Peter Jones and The ‘Apprentice’s’ Claire Young, has chosen 20 winners and to celebrate their success the prolific UK photographer Rankin has captured each of these businesses using his iconic portraiture style. These photographs will be showcased at the gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank from 28 January to 28 February 2010.

Each portrait depicts how technology has transformed each entrepreneur’s bright idea from pure imagination into a reality that now enhances many people’s lives.

Of the winners, Loop is a knitting shop in north London, which was founded by Susan Cropper (pictured above). The shop sources yarns from all over the world as well as a vast range of haberdashery, patterns and knitting books and keeps in contact with its customers via e-newsletters and Twitter.

Robert Matthams (pictured above) is the founder of Shiply, a company which helps customers find cheap courier services by matching them up with delivery companies already making similar trips across the UK and Europe. Matthams was also awarded the title of Outstanding Entrepreneur and give a £10,000 sterling business grant by BT Business.

Other winners photographed by Rankin include Bompass and Parr founders Sam Bompass and Harry Parr (pictured below). The duo create fine English jellies, design bespoke jelly moulds and curate culinary events.

At the photoshoot, BT also filmed a behind-the-scenes video, which can be viewed on YouTube.

All of the photos featured in this article were taken by the photographer, publisher and film director Rankin.