This year’s credit-crunch busting finalists include a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur whose Indian cooking sauces are sold in delis and stores in 30 countries, two siblings in their 20s who run a farm in Shropshire for the community’s benefit, and a 14-year-old teenpreneur who made considerably more last year than others his age will be making from their paper rounds or pocket money!
Run by the Make Your Mark campaign and supported by the Institute of Directors, The Daily Mail, HM Treasury and The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) the awards reward budding young entrepreneurs (aged 30 and under) who have turned their ideas into a profit-making reality, shining a spotlight on the next generation of British business big shots.
Harry Rich, Chief Executive of the Make Your Mark campaign, said: “This year’s finalists fly the flag for the many other young entrepreneurs who are riding out today’s tough economic climate, and making a success of their venture. Today more than ever businesses need to be innovative and creative and these young businesses are an inspiration for anyone else planning to take the plunge.”
The much coveted People’s Choice award, which is voted for by the public, has opened for voting online and will close a few hours before the winners are announced – at an event held at the Institute of Directors on 24th March.
Now in its fifth year, the awards scheme has discovered some of Britain’s brightest talent and helped springboard their businesses to the next level including Jamie Murray-Wells, whose company GlassesDirect.co.uk won the Business category in 2005, and Ali Clabburn, the founder of LiftShare.com, who won the Social & Environment category in the same year.
This year’s 20 finalists are split over five categories:
- Business Entrepreneur: For enterprising individuals who have started their own business, large or small
- Social & community: For ventures combining the principles of a successful business with an emphasis on the social and environmental benefits it can provide
- Teen: For anybody aged 13-19 who is making their idea happen
- Creative: For enterprising individuals, businesses and endeavours that show creative flair or that are based in the creative industries
- Going global: For businesses that are successfully operating in the UK and abroad
The winner of each category will take home £1,000 and a trophy, as well as the accolade of being hailed as one of the country’s most ‘Enterprising Young Brits’.
Go to www.makeyourmark.org.uk/youngbrits to cast your vote.
