All Together NOW! was among the prize winners at the annual Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards which recognise and reward charities, businesses and individuals for their entrepreneurial spirit.
Judges were impressed with how the FREE All Together NOW! disability-focused newspaper had DOUBLED its readership during the past year to almost HALF A MILLION.
More than 40 supermarkets (ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Booths) across the North West are now stocking the paper – with an average of 10,000 copies being picked up every week. Current sponsors include The Bank Workers Charity; Liverpool Community Health (NHS) Trust; Merseytravel; The Morgan Foundation; Park Group; and United Utilities.
The only paper of its kind in the UK, All Together NOW! received the Runner-Up prize for providing the Best Social Contribution in the Small Charity category.
Winners in the category were Knowsley Cancer Support Centre and Birkenhead-based Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough, which supports women and children with complex needs.
The Against All Odds award – given to the person or organisation that had overcome the biggest obstacles on their path to success – went to
Amy Garton-Hughes, from New Brighton, Wirral, who has struggled from birth with undiagnosed symptoms that were eventually identified as Cockayne Syndrome – a premature ageing disorder that leads to shortened life expectancy.
With the help of her family and friends she set up Amy and Friends in 2007 to help families all over the world who have the condition.
Despite battling her own debilitating illness, Amy and her organisation have raised money to medical research, resulting in the ground breaking identification of the carrier gene.
Mr Steve Morgan, founder of the Morgan Foundation, chairman of Redrow plc, and owner/chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, said at the glittering gala ceremony at Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire: “The Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards are all about targeting inspiration – from young entrepreneurs with great ideas, to established charities changing lives across the region.
“As in previous years I have been heartened and humbled to meet some truly exceptional people during the judging process.
“At a time of economic uncertainty, stories of entrepreneurial success and social enterprise are even more meaningful and our aim is to give them the recognition they so deserve.”
Barbara Richmond, Group Finance Director of Redrow plc, who were the main sponsors the awards, said: “These awards are unique in rewarding entrepreneurship of individuals, businesses, social enterprises and charities in our communities not only with due recognition of their efforts but also with much needed cash and professional support.”
The winners and runners-up in the seven categories won a total of £117,500 in cash prizes as well as a package of professional services.
The £20,000 first prize in the Best New Business category went to Cooper’s Gourmet Sausage Rolls from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, founded by Ivan Watkiss.
A real foodie, Ivan’s entire family is involved in catering and when the recession came along he decided to diversify. His aim was to create the perfect sausage roll, and to change people’s perception of the product.
Dogan Dogan, who established Hellofoto Booths in Walsall, won the title of Best Young Entrepreneur. His business provides fun photo booths for use at parties and events. Dogan was also awarded a surprise prize by Chris Arnold, Founder of Smaller Earth Group and World Merit, to participate in the World Merit programme.
The Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise went to the Longmynd Adventure Camp in Church Stretton, Shropshire,
The Charity or Social Enterprise making Best Social Contribution (turnover over £150k) went to The Brink Café, Liverpool, for its alcohol counselling service and one for a ‘Brink of Change’ programme preparing people for longer term treatment options.
A new category for this year, Best Individual Entrepreneur working in a Social Enterprise or Charity was awarded to Lawrence Santangeli, of Eldonian Group Ltd.
Lawrence’s commitment to the regeneration of Liverpool has seen the Eldonian Group develop from a grant dependent business to being a fully sustainable social enterprise delivering real social impact to the city and beyond.
Roll of Honour
Best New Business
Cooper’s Gourmet Sausage Rolls, Shrewsbury (£20,000)
Joint Runners-up
Love Frocks, Runcorn (£5,000)
Silky Bouquets Ltd, Liverpool (£5,000)
Highly Commended
Navigate IT Ltd, Bretton, Chester
Jungle HR Ltd, Shropshire
Engage Web, Ellesmere Port
Best Young Entrepreneur
Dogan Dogan, Hellofoto Booths, Booths, Walsall (£10,000)
Runners-up
Liam Payne – LP Equestrian, Dudley (£2,500)
Danielle Walton – Coco Hair, Wolverhampton (£2,500)
Highly Commended
Laura Green – Serendipity, Runcorn
Anna Jenkins – Silky Bouquets, Liverpool
Best Individual Entrepreneur working in a Social Enterprise or Charity
Lawrence Santangeli, of Eldonian Group Ltd, Liverpool (£5,000)
Runner-up
Jacquie Johnston-Lynch, The Brink Café, Liverpool (£2,500)
Kim March, Longmynd Adventure Camp, Church Stretton (£2,500)
Highly Commended
Dawn Roberts, Empowering Youth Foundation, Wrexham
Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise
Longmynd Adventure Camp in Church Stretton, Shropshire (£10,000)
Runners-up:
Harlech & Ardudwy Leisure, Harlech (£5,000)
Diverse Road Safety, Liverpool (£5,000)
Highly Commended:
Can Cook, Liverpool
Gourmet Meals, Kingswinford
Small Charity or Social Enterprise making Best Social Contribution
Knowsley Cancer Support Centre and Birkenhead-based Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough (£5,000 each)
Runner-up:
All Together NOW!, Liverpool (£2,500)
Highly Commended
Rural Community Services, Tarporley, Cheshire
Power Pleas Trust, Wolverhampton
Large Charity or Social Enterprise making Best Social Contribution
The Brink Café, Liverpool (£10,000)
Runners-up
Multiple Sclerosis Support Centre, Saltney, Flintshire (£5,000)
YKids, Bootle (£5,000)
Highly Commended
Active Community Enterprise, Prescot, Merseyside
FRC Group, Liverpool
Against All Odds
Amy Garton-Hughes, New Brighton (£10,000)
Highly Commended
Rachel Cooper, BNR, Brierley Hill
Jayne Fletcher, Signsong, Walsall
Dave Kelly, Daisy Inclusive UK, Liverpool
Hayley Wright, Romantic Eccentric Jewellery, Wolverhampton
The main award sponsors were Redrow plc. Co-sponsors – Deloitte and Brabners Chaffe Street. Event partners included DRP Group, Insider Media, World Merit and NMC Design+Print.
