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Super six shortlisted for Entrepreneur gongs

Six of the North East’s most successful and innovative entrepreneurs are lining up for the chance to be crowned the region’s best.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum has revealed its shortlists for the Entrepreneur of the Year and Emerging Talent awards to be presented at a prestigious ceremony on Friday night.

The titles, that are presented annually, recognise the business owners who have achieved significant success, and newer entrepreneurs of great promise.

The nominees for Emerging Talent are:

Craig Huntingdon, of Dentist Direct, a new brand of franchised and company owned private dental practices, based out of Houghton-le-Spring;

Rob Mathieson, of Newcastle-based AYO Digital, which is aiming to become the leading provider of web-based software systems in the North East;

Louise McAlpine (pictured above, right), of Teesside-based IT waste recycling company Innov8 Disposal, and KT UK North, distributing the world’s largest brand of kinesio tape.

The finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year are:

Sara Davies, of Crafter’s Companion, a leading manufacturer and global retailer of crafting products that started in Coundon, County Durham and now has two further sites in the UK as well as offices in Holland and a US subsidiary based in California;

Meenu Malhotra, who came to the North East from India aged 17 and has gone on to build the Malhotra Group of companies with turnover of £40m in the care, leisure and property sectors, and employing 1,000 people in the region;

Jeff Winn (pictured above, left), who founded Byker-based Winn Solicitors, a specialist road traffic accident firm. providing a one-stop-shop for road traffic accident victims. Last year the award-winning Winn Group generated revenues of £40m.

The winner of a third award, for Lifetime Achievement, chosen for their considerable contribution to the North East economy and business community over a long period of time, will be revealed at the ceremony at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton Hotel.

Nicola Short, executive director of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “The countdown has begun to our very exciting Entrepreneurial Awards. With so much considerable talent in this region the judges had a really hard time choosing the finalists.

“The shortlists are incredible and represent just a snapshot of the amazing and vibrant entrepreneurial community that’s thriving in the North East. They all deserve to be honoured, and we’re all looking forward to finding out who’s won.”

Hosted by Steve Cam MBE, the awards event will also be a fundraiser for the Nuru Fund, following a long tradition of altruism among Forum members who have given hundreds of thousands of pounds to worthy causes in the past.

Nearly 300 people are already confirmed for the event. For more information or to book, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .