Member Article

Hunt is on for top North East entrepreneurs

The search has begun to find the cream of North East’s entrepreneurial talent with the launch of the 2012 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards.

Orchestrated by professional services firm Ernst & Young and sponsored by Credit Suisse, the competition is now in its 26th year.

It celebrates the achievements of individuals who have demonstrated dynamism, flair and resilience while building successful businesses that have their chief operations in the UK and have been incorporated for 2 years as of January 1 2012.

Executive director and Entrepreneur Of The Year leader at Ernst & Young in Newcastle, said: “Recognising, championing and supporting entrepreneurship in the North East remains vital.

“The awards showcase those business leaders whose vision, determination and innovation is key to the strength of our economy.

“These individuals thrive on challenging processes, lifting constraints and altering the way their employees and fellow business leaders think and work.

“The awards give them the opportunity t reflect on their successes and evaluate how their achievements have made a fundamental difference to the way business is conducted in our region.”

Entrants will first be pitted against each other at regional level, and the winners will go on to compete in UK finals in October.

The overall winner will then vie for the title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year at a Monte Carlo ceremony.

Judges will look for entrants who have invested a personal financial stake in their business, either directly or through share options, and those who have gone beyond traditional trade borders in search of growth.

Recent North East-based winners include James Ritchie of Tekmar, Neil Stephenson of Onyx Group, Arnab Basu of Kromek, Peter Stephenson of Able UK, Sara Davies of Crafter’s Companion and Graeme Lowdon of Nomad Digital.

Simon Whiteside continued: “The regulatory environment, lack of finance and insufficient tax incentives are just three of the factors that are handicapping entrepreneurs in their quest to invest and create jobs.

“We are interested in a range of entrepreneurs in particular those who are looking to drive exports, the most powerful driver of business and employment success, and those who have set their sights on globalisation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .