A banker turned ‘mumpreneur’ is a amid celebration after landing a place on the shortlist for this year’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards food and drink category.
Surrey based mother, Marina Wegorek, caught the attention of some very prestigious names in the awards this year following the launch of her sport nutrition brand, ProYouth Nutrition, the company behind the the world’s first completely natural protein bar for children, scientifically proven to enhance their athletic performance.
Marina, now 44, decided to invent a snack suitable for post and pre energy replenishment after being so ‘appalled’ by the sugar filled offerings at her children’s sporting events. When she couldn’t find one she liked, she created one herself with the help of a team of nutrition and sport scientists.
Talking about the shortlist, Marina Wegorek, Founder of ProYouth Nutrition said: “I’m absolutely over the moon the be shortlisted for this year’s food and drink entrepreneur award at the GBEA 2020!
“As a business we have experienced the hardship firsthand of not only being a small start-up but also the added trouble of being born into the middle of global pandemic. Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award is not only a reason to celebrate but a nod to all the hard work we have put into ProYouth to date and some acknowledgement of our potential.
“We are a brand that aims to spread a positive message and mission on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle and it is so great to know our work and story has been so well received! We are truly grateful to be part of the ceremony this year and can’t wait to see what the future holds for ProYouth Nutrition!”
Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom.
The Awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names.Previous winners include the founders of BrewDog, Tangle Teezer, The LAD Bible, Clearscore & The Cambridge Satchel Company.
Judges of the awards include Hayley Parsons, who founded Go Compare, Cath Kidston, Lord Bilimoria of Cobra Beer and Kanya King, the founder of the MOBO awards.
This year, with face to face events challenging, the regional heats will be celebrated online on September 23rd.
Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said: “Given what we’ve seen over the past few months, the 2020 edition of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is arguably the most important. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that we celebrate the achievements of the country’s entrepreneurs and their determination in the face of such adversity.
“So many entrepreneurs will have been fighting to keep their business afloat over the past few months, and indeed will be over the coming months. That’s exactly why we launched the Pivot category; to recognise those that have managed to adapt and thrive throughout this period.
“I want to send my congratulations to each and every single entrepreneur who has made it to the shortlist this year, and I wish them the very best of luck for the regional finals.”
Anne Boden, founder and CEO of Starling Bank, said: “These entrepreneurs have gone above and beyond in order to allow their businesses to flourish in extremely difficult times and it is a true honour to congratulate each and every one of them.”
