27 June 2008
Five new businesses in EnterPrize final
The short list for New East Manchester’s EnterPrize competition
has been announced.
This year's judging panel has whittled the high volume of
entries down to five nominees – all fledging firms based in east
Manchester that have been trading for two years or less. Short-
listed entrepreneurs will battle for a cash prize of £10,000 and a
second award of £5,000.
The EnterPrize competition rewards business talent in the area,
recognising the enthusiasm, creativity and innovation of new
companies across east Manchester and encouraging economic growth.
It is run by urban regeneration company New East Manchester in
partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and New
Deal for Communities.
The five short-listed companies are:
Built-Up Signs: Peter Potts and Westley McKay from Newton Heath
manufacture acrylic letters and bespoke signage. They are already
supplying some major companies and are well positioned to grow
their business with the EnterPrize award. www.built-ups.com
Dream Clubs: Sharon Calvert from Gorton runs a health and
fitness company providing healthy living and exercise classes to
local people. The EnterPrize panel felt she supplied an important
service to the local community. www.dreamclubs.co.uk
Eco Ads: Siobhan O’Loughlin from east Manchester is at the early
stages of developing a range of eco friendly marketing products.
The judges felt that, with the right support, there was great
potential for this business idea.
Promise Clean Services: Sean X runs a high quality domestic and
commercial cleaning business located in Newton Heath. His mantra is
‘if we don’t do what we promise, we’ll do it for free’. The panel
liked the energy displayed in his business plan.
This traditional clothing company: for Muslim and Arab women was
set up by Nahla Lutfi from Clayton after she realised how hard it
was to buy traditional clothes outside London. With the prize money
she would sell her products online, open a shop and tap in to a
growing market.
A panel of independent business experts short-listed these five
businesses. They were looking for applicants who could best show
their potential for growth and who explained clearly how they would
use the £10,000 prize money to build their firm. Their plans needed
to be realistic, credible and robust enough to withstand uncertain
times such as the current credit crunch.
Eddie Smith, New East Manchester’s Chief Executive, was on the
judging panel. He said: “EnterPrize is as much about getting small
companies into shape through business advice and planning sessions
as it is about winning the £10,000 award. All the new businesses
involved in the competition and those who come to the Awards Event
can benefit from advice and support plus the chance to make useful
contacts that can help their businesses thrive. This year we
received a very varied range of business ideas which the panel felt
demonstrated a real passion for enterprise.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “This
year’s short-listed companies are testimony to the business talent
that exists in east Manchester. Supporting the growth of new start
up companies plays an important part in the drive to boost the
local economy. Through encouraging and supporting local
entrepreneurs to devise achievable ways to grow their businesses,
this competition aims to drive an enterprising culture throughout
the area.”
The winner will be announced at the Business Network Event and
EnterPrize Awards Ceremony at the City of Manchester Stadium on 3
July 2008.
The FREE New East Manchester Business Network and EnterPrize
Awards Event takes place on Thursday 3 July 2008, 6 – 8pm at the
City of Manchester Stadium.
Places are limited so book yours online at www.thenementerprize.co.uk
Ends
Media Enquiries: Rowan Atkins M: 07834 158 725 E: rowan@rowanatkins.co.uk
Notes to editors
The EnterPrize Competition
The EnterPrize is for businesses based in New East Manchester
(Ancoats, Beswick, Clayton, Openshaw, Miles Platting, Newton Heath
or Gorton). There is no restriction on the number of times a
business can apply so previous applicants are encouraged to apply
again. Your business should be either a new start-up idea or an
existing business that is less than two years old.
The closing date for applications was 23 May 2008. All
applicants attended New East Manchester’s "Furthering Your
Business" seminar on 2 June and produced a simple business plan.
The five finalists then took part in a one-to-one session with a
top UK business consultant. They will present their business plan
to a panel of business leaders, consultants and entrepreneurs and
the winner is announced at the EnterPrize Awards Ceremony on 3 July
2008.
New East Manchester
New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a
partnership between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships
and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is
NEM's role to implement the Regeneration Framework, secure the
required public and private funding, lead on specific major
development projects as well as co-ordinate the range of
regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area. For more
information visit www.neweastmanchester.com.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for
the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England’s
Northwest and has five key priorities: business, skills and
education, people and jobs, infrastructure and quality of
life. For further information visit www.nwda.co.uk or www.englandsnorthwest.com.
New Deal for Communities
Beacons for a Brighter Future is the New Deal for Communities (NDC)
Programme covering the neighbourhoods of Beswick, Clayton and
Openshaw in east Manchester. NDC is a key Government strategy to
tackle social exclusion and bridge the gap between the poorest
neighbourhoods and the rest of the country. The 10-year programme,
which ends in March 2010, seeks greater balance between investing
in buildings and investing in people. Beacons has consistently been
recognised by Government as one of the most successful
community-led regeneration programmes in the country.