Five beneficiaries of Urban Futures’ North London Business Gateway programme won business awards at the Enterprise Enfield Business Awards Ceremony on 9th November at the Royal Chace Hotel in Enfield. The local business owners were awarded with prize cheques and certificates by Deputy Mayor of London, Nicky Gavron. The Awards, sponsored by The RSA Trust, were established by Enterprise Enfield last year to recognise the achievements of local businesses (under 50 employees) in five different categories:
- Start-up Business of the Year (under two years of trading)
- Business of the Year (over two years trading)
- Innovative Business of the Year
- Social Enterprise of the Year
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year (under 30 years old)
Competition was fierce among the contenders, however, the 15 strong judging panel (Three in each category) selected the 10 finalists, five of whom received £1,000 as winners, whilst the runners up each received £500 (the prize money was provided by The RSA Trust).
The winning businesses were:
- Tom Lasica and Kees ‘t Hooft, Pure Fuels Limited won runner up of Business Start up of the Year.
Pure Fuels' business idea reflects the current times - to provide a city-based biodiesel operation. It will collect and accept waste cooking oil - produced in large quantities - and turn it into biodiesel that can power any diesel engine, and its by product, glycerol, will be sold as a fuel to provide heat and hot water on an industrial scale. The company only commenced trading in April 2006 but has already made considerable headway in achieving its aim - to establish Pure Fuels as a model for a compact, city based biodiesel operation that can be replicated across London and other cities.
- Denise Fresco and Mark Oliver, The Courier Service (Same Day) Ltd won Business of the Year,
Husband and wife team, Denise and Mark set up their same day courier service business in July 2004. They operate an overnight service in North London-Northwest and all EN - post codes and provide a same day delivery service locally and nationwide.
The aim is to ‘take the strain out of the customers’ delivery pains’. The business is very environmentally aware with low energy lighting and moving towards LPG gas.
- Laban Roomes, Midas Touch International won runner up in the Innovative Business of the Year
Since Laban started his company, Midas Touch in 1995, it has become a market-leading organisation in the gold-plating of accessories. Laban was inspired by the James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’ to develop his business offering a unique opportunity for the personalisation of personal items.
- Rita Melifonwu, Total Healthcare Groups CIC won Social Enterprise of the Year.
Total Healthcare is a social enterprise specialising in the management of long term conditions such as asthma, arthritis, coronary heart disease, diabetes and strokes - adopting a holistic approach to these conditions. Rita set up the business in May 2004, however, it has only really gained momentum over the past year.
- Annie Smol, Face Front Inclusive Theatre won runner up in the Social Enterprise of the Year
Face Front creates original, ground-breaking inclusive Theatre with a company of both disabled and non disabled artists. Annie originally started Face Front as an Art Start project in 1998 and then set it up as a social enterprise in June 2004 with fellow Directors Jon French, Shirley Mason and Catrin Thomas.
Enterprise Enfield has helped many of these business owners establish and develop their businesses – with expert advice, guidance (from its team of advisers) and training seminars. The 15 strong judging panel (3 in each category), comprised of experienced members of the business support community, from organisations such as: Business Link for London, North London Chamber of Commerce, Middlesex University, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, London Development Agency, North London Enterprise Club, Enfield Council, GLE one London, KIS Training and Enterprise Enfield. Urban Futures’ helps finance Enterprise Enfield to provide small businesses support in the Objective 2 areas through their North London Business Gateway project. The project provides a one-stop shop for business advice, and Enterprise Enfield is one of the main providers.
Phil Langslow, Chief Executive of Urban Futures said: “I am delighted at the recognition of the success of these businesses. With confirmed increasing concentrations of worklessness in the Upper Lee Valley, these programmes will become ever more significant in tackling the problem.”
More detailed information on each winner can be found in the case study section of this site.
