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Six young Cornish entrepreneurs honoured at third Hub awards
A surf coach, a marketing executive, two internet consultants and a green-thinking entrepreneur were all honoured at the third annual awards for young business people by Cornish networking organisation the Hub.
Specially commissioned eco-friendly awards were presented to six winners who are making waves in the Cornish business community for their dedication, creativity and entrepreneurialism.
The Hub Awards 2007, held at Seasons at Clowance near Camborne, was one of several events to take place during Cornwall Business Week, showcasing the county as the ultimate destination for growing businesses.
Keynote speaker was Rob Kinna of Kinnavations, an entrepreneur from Carnon Downs who appeared on BBC's The Dragons' Den last year, successfully negotiating £60,000 investment into his business. Rob invented the BakJak, a back aid for mechanics.
The event was again support by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with chamber directors joining Hub committee members to form the judging panel.
Hub steering committee member Stafford Sumner said: "These awards are about celebrating our county's young entrepreneurs. These are the people who will shape the future of the Cornwall, and by seeing what our winners have achieved so far in their careers, that future is certainly in safe hands."
Each winner was presented with a bottle of Camel Valley sparkling wine and an award, created from recycled CDs, offcuts of acrylic and locally grown oak.
Winners:
Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Business Cornwall:
Louise Routledge, Luminate Marketing
Best Employee of a Cornish Company, sponsored by Unlocking Cornish Potential:
Lotte Mahon, Stranger Magazine
Most Sustainable Business Practice, sponsored by Cornwall Pure Business:
John Leith, Green Couriers
Best Tourism Concept, sponsored by Seasons at Clowance:
Chris Thomson, Errant
Best Business Practice, sponsored by Atlantic FM:
Dan Hinchliffe and Mike Reed, NetInsight
Hub Attendee of the Year, sponsored by the Hub:
Rob Rush, PFA Research
For more information about the Hub, go to www.cornwallhub.org.
Entrepreneur of the Year - Louise Routledge, Luminate Marketing
Having just returned to Cornwall, Louise's business Luminate Marketing is based on the thriving entrepreneurial spirit to be found in the county's business community.
She provides outsourced marketing for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and local authorities, offering affordable consultancy. Louise set up Luminate after working in sales, marketing and product development, working as creative manager for three years.
Milly Newman, who nominated Louise, said: "Because Louise has created her own style that inspires people, she is fearless and filled with the belief that her business will succeed.
"Louise has a real natural talent for connecting with people on a personal level and this has been valuable to enable Luminate to grow and become recognised as a serious business by local companies."
Louise said: "Getting people to recognise the value of marketing within their business is so important in a highly competitive market. I understand the value of networking within Cornwall and it is groups like the Hub that made it possible for me to connect with like minded business people and move my business forward."
Best employee of a Cornish company - Lotte Mahon, Stranger magazine.
Lotte, aged 25, first joined Stranger magazine, a lifestyle magazine based in Cornwall with a national circulation, as an Unlocking Cornish Potential graduate.
She managed the transition of the product from a free publication to a paid-for magazine, securing a UK distribution deal with international book store Borders plus a further 100 independent retail outlets.
Her employer, Helen Gilchrist, said: "Lotte has been truly dedicated to increasing Stranger's reach and has dealt with every single outlet with the same personal and friendly approach, regardless of the size of their outlet or order.
"Within nine months of introducing the cover price she had struck a deal with Borders bookshops, the UK's largest independent magazine retailer. This relationship has continued with increased orders each issue.
"Lotte has been extremely enthusiastic throughout this difficult task of getting noticed in the national magazine arena. She has nurtured relationships with smaller businesses and huge multi-national corporations alike.
"As an independent publisher with no budget for marketing campaigns it took sheer passion and determination to persuade buyers to consider Stranger."
On winning her award, Lotte said: "This was such a surprise, and it's nice to gain recognition for the work I've done, particularly the national distribution deal. It's been a long slog, but it's worked out better than we could ever have hoped for."
Most sustainable business practice- John Leith, GreenFleet Couriers
GreenFleet Couriers was born from the recognition of Cornwall's respect for the environment.
Set up by John Leith, aged 26, the fleet's biodiesel fuel is sourced from within the southwest and the business is run from Cornwall with national and global facilities.
John hopes to lead the way for eco-transport by creating a demand for biodiesel. GreenFleet has also started offering alternative rates to registered charities within the county in the hope that reducing their logistical cost will encourage their progress.
He said: "Since we started trading in January this year, we have aimed to build a network of clients throughout the southwest allowing us to operate on the most cost effective level.
"So far we have generated interest from several companies within the south west such as Eden, Finisterre, ONE water and COAST. We hope local government organisations will recognise our potential also."
Best Tourism Concept - Chris Thomson, Errant
25-year-old Chris Thomson runs not one, but two successful surf businesses. He runs surf travel agency Errant, adding initiatives such as a carbon-neutral green policy and the Grom Exchange tour, a surf training camp in Lanzarote for Cornish youngsters to hone their skills.
Errant operates in Europe, Costa Rica and Africa, providing tailor-made surfing holidays for families, couples and independent travellers.
This year he has also launched Errant Surf School and Errant Surf Guide a little closer to home, working alongside The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay Hotel and Explore South West.
Chris was nominated by friend and colleague Rhona Gardiner, who said: " Chris is committed to developing a brand and not just a travel agent unlike some travel agents Errant is wholeheartedly sticking to what it does best and loves the most - surfing. Over the past five years Chris has dedicated himself to developing British surfing and eco-friendly travel from a Cornish base.
"At the age of only 25 Chris has set up two successful businesses collectively generating a significant revenue for Cornwall and providing employment for Cornish people. He has provided unique experiences and opportunities for clients across the world and for young surfers in Cornwall. In the past year Chris has also juggled this major workload with the other baby in his life - his one year old son Dylan."
Best Business Concept - Dan Hinchliffe and Mike Reed
Proving that you don't have to be based in Silicon Valley to run a successful IT and internet-based business, Dan Hinchliffe and Mike Reed launched NetInsight.
The pair spotted in a gap in the market for offering genuinely independent advice and consultancy, creating websites and e-commerce solutions.
Dan said: "We have set up one of the only independent impartial website and e-commerce consultancy company in the UK and were based here in Cornwall.
"Unlike other website and e-commerce consultancy companies we do not sell our own web development technology or affiliate directly with any specific companies.
"We only commission companies based on merit and their suitability to each specific project. We are solely dedicated to providing our customers with the best website to fit their requirements and budget."
"We provide our clients with years of knowledge and experience in order to create a successful website the first time around."
Hub attendee of the Year - Rob Rush, PFA Research
Rob Rush is a familiar face on Cornwall's networking scene, and a stalwart support of the Hub - the county's networking organisation for young business people.
Rob has been regularly attending events since the Hub's inception in 2002. He supports the work of the voluntary steering committee, particularly in making new members feel welcome.
He said: "I always thought I was a shy person, and I can remember how terrifying it used to be to enter a room full of business people. I now consider the Hub to be part of my social life now and I've made great friends here."
Committee member for the Hub Rachel Foster said: "It was a unanimous decision to present this award to Rob. Many members of the committee remember meeting him at their first networking events, and found him kind, generous and friendly, and always prepared to offer advice or support."
Cornwall Pure Business is a service of Cornwall Development Company