News
Trendy Vend, founded by Kayleigh and Talia Baccino, were the winners of the Best YoungEntrepreneur category in 2008.
Trendy Vend produce stylish vending machines for the female washroom. The machines incorporate an LCD advertising screenthat canbe used for advertising orto support public awareness campaigns. A very new business, Trendy Vend has been able to expand its custom built installations, with seven more coming on line in new venues in May 2009. One of these will be a prototype for a male version. Read more
Last year, the Against All Odds prize of £25,000 was awarded to Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Farm.
The farm in North Shropshire, on which her late father was a tenant, was saved from development in June 2006 when over 8000 people purchased non-profit making £50 shares. Now owned by its shareholders, the land and house are leased to Ben and Charlotte Hollins, whilst the Fordhall Community Land Initiative utilises the same land for community benefit through events, volunteering and educational visits.
Charlotte Hollins, project director reports, “The Fordhall Community Land Initiative received great press from the awards and this served as a great benefit to our future progression. Read more.
Steve Morgan has launched The Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards 2009, with over £100,000 of cash prizes and services on offer to the winners. Now in their third year, the Awards are open to charities, social enterprises, businesses and entrepreneurs from Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Wolverhampton area. Read more
Speaking at the launch, Steve Morgan said: "I'm confident that, despite the current economic climate, the entries for the Awards are going to be better than ever. It's in tough times that entrepreneurship really comes to the fore. We are looking for businesses and individuals who have got a sound plan and the grit and determination to make it succeed."
Businesses and charities share £105,000 prize pot
The winners of The 2008 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards were announced last night at a glittering awards ceremony at Carden Park Hotel near Chester. Click here to read more.
After an extremely difficult judging process, The Morgan Foundation is pleased to announce the entrants through to the final round of judging for the 2008 Entrepreneur Awards. Click here to view the list of finalists.
£150k’s worth of prize money and professional services to be won
Steve Morgan is today launching The Morgan Foundation’s 2008 Entrepreneur Awards with over £150,000 of cash prizes and services on offer to the winners.
Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural awards, the awards have this year been extended to encompass businesses and entrepreneurs from the Wolverhampton area as well as from Merseyside, West Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales who will have the opportunity to compete across five categories for a potentially major boost to their enterprise.
Designed to encourage a whole new generation of entrepreneurial role models, the return of the awards for 2008 were today being marked at a launch at Barclays Commercial Bank in Chapel Street in Liverpool. With main sponsorship provided by Barclays Commercial, there are dual launches to this year’s award scheme, with today’s event following a similar one held at Molineux Stadium yesterday.
Having launched his business life by using a £5,000 loan from his father to help found one of the UK’s most successful house builders in Redrow, before moving on to a variety of property and leisure based businesses, Steve is now hoping to help similarly ambitious entrepreneurs and young businesses achieve their potential.
Steve explains: “I am delighted to announce that we are once again running the Entrepreneur Awards for 2008 and including the Wolverhampton area. The idea is to stimulate the idea of entrepreneurship whilst also providing some real financial encouragement. There was nothing like this around when I was starting out in business and it can really make a huge difference. I would urge any young business or entrepreneur to put together an application because last year’s winners have already proved just what a difference the prize money can provide to their business.”
Applications must be submitted by September 12 and those individuals or companies shortlisted will be invited to an Awards Ceremony at Carden Park Hotel on November 20 where the winners will be announced.
Pictured from left: Nick Ashfield, Championship MiniatureGolf; John Powell, Barclays; Steve Morgan; Chris Larkin, So Baby
The Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards really 'made a difference' to the finalists and winners back in 2007. Nearly one year on we look at a selection of the finalists and see how the Awards helped them realise their dreams and gave them the confidence to continue to develop flourishing businesses.
"As a direct result of the investment by The Morgan Foundation in So Baby, sales have more than doubled in the past 12 months and the prospects for further rapid growth are strong. Many thousands of little babies across the UK are also, I’m sure, very happy to see So Baby thriving as a result of the support from The Morgan Foundation."
So Baby - Winner of Best New Business 2007
"We have used the prize money awarded to update our website, raise awareness and create online marketing campaigns. We have established a dedicated database which now helps us understand our customer base better and enables us to engage directly with them."
Underwater Street - Runner Up of Best New Business 2007
"The PR we received from the Award helped us gain further press attention within the Merseyside area and created local interest within the company."
Sentric Music -Runner Up of Best New Business 2007
"I feel that the awards and prize gave me the motivation and momentum to make sure the business works."
Laptop Matcher - Winner Best Young Entrepreneur 2007
"Winning the Award gave me tremendous confidence. And the substantial cash prize for winning helped me raise the necessary funds to build and operate our second course."
Championship MiniatureGolf - Winner of Best Potential Business 2007
So Baby of Chester Scoops £50,000 Best New Business award
The winners of the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards were announced last night at a glittering awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool.
So Baby of Chester was awarded the £50,000 first prize in the Best New Business category. So Baby manufactures handmade award–winning frozen organic baby meals for babies from 6 months to 2 years of age. Established in September 2005 by partners Chris Larkin and Sarah Dennison, the inspiration for the business came following the birth of their daughter Charlotte.
The Best Young Entrepreneur first prize of £10,000 was awarded to Nathan O’Connor, aged 20, who is studying International Business at the University of Liverpool.
Championship Miniaturegolf walked away with the top prize of £12,000 in the Best Potential Business category.
Steve Morgan commenting on the awards ceremony said, “The purpose of the awards is to highlight what can be achieved and to encourage would-be entrepreneurs in the North West who hopefully will go on to create wealth and prosperity for themselves and the local economy. The £100,000 prize money offers real incentive and the individual prize money will make a significant difference to the winners. We look forward to seeing how much of a difference in the forthcoming months.”
