THE finalists have been announced in this year’s Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards. In total, there are 33 finalists across seven different categories. They are one step closer to winning one of 17 cash prizes, totalling £115,000, as well as a package of professional services.
The eventual winners and runners-up will be revealed on November 10 at the 2011 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner to be held at the Carden Park Hotel, near Chester.
The awards, which are sponsored by Redrow, attracted a record number of entries from charities, social enterprises, businesses and entrepreneurs from Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Wolverhampton area.
Having got over the first hurdle, each of the short-listed candidates will now be quizzed by a panel of experts.
These will include the founder of the awards – businessman and Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan – and senior representatives from Barclays, Deloitte and other significant businessmen and women from across the region.
Steve Morgan said that he was looking forward to meeting the finalists in person.
“The first round judges had a difficult task, the final panel an even tougher one,” he said.
“The standard is extremely high, so the judges need to really understand the businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them before we can decide who will lift the prizes.”
The finalists are:
Best New Business:
Easy MCS Ltd, Saltney
Eco Environments Ltd, Bootle
Jolly Good Rental Vehicles, Wrexham
Labelline UK Ltd, St Helens
Navigate IT, Bretton
Best Business Providing an Economic or Social Contribution to the Region
Comtek Network Systems UK Ltd, Deeside
Eco Environments Ltd, Liverpool
Galeri Caernarfon, Caernarfon
Imagematch Social Enterprise, Shrewsbury
Lewis Psychology CIC, Wolverhampton
Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise
The Brink, Liverpool
Crest Co-operative, Llandudno Junction
Dee-Tex Project, Saltney
Kindness in Mind, Mold
Little League Sports, Belle Vale, Liverpool
Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise in Liverpool (sponsored by Liverpool Vision)
The Brink
Merseyside Domestic Violence Services
Little League Sports
Squash Nutrition
Best Young Entrepreneur
Thomas Farquhar, Easy MCS Ltd, Saltney
Mark Gleave, Healthbox CIC, Chester
Simon Roberts, Roberts Recycling, Liverpool
Richard Rees, North Wales Hydro Power Ltd, Abergele
Eva Zych, , Flavory Nature, Liverpool
Best New Business Idea by a Young Entrepreneur
Craig Churm,Textbooks-4-Students, Shifnal
Kelsey Donlevy, Just Dance, Liverpool
Toni Marie Hynes, UK Visits, Liverpool
Iman Espeut-Mills, Elite Enterprise, Wolverhampton
Tina Lee, Creative Craft Jewellery, Liverpool
Against All Odds
Jane Davis & Niall Gibney, The Reader Organisation, Liverpool
Kerrie Griffiths-Rogers, The Interior Company, Whitchurch
Brian McManus, Dee-Tex Project, Saltney
Jean Taylor, Families Fighting for Justice, Liverpool