Business philanthropist Steve Morgan hailed this year's "inspirational" entrepreneurs as £110,000 in prizes were handed out at the 2010 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards. The ceremony, held at the Carden Park Hotel in Chester, was particularly emotional as cystic fibrosis sufferer Debbie Stone won the 'Against All Odds' category. The businesswoman, who runs the Blow Hair & Beauty salon in Widnes, was awarded a £10,000 prize as she was recognised for fighting through her illness to open the salon and two card and gift shops. Morgan said: "This is the fourth year of the awards and each time they have got bigger and better - 2010 is no exception. We had more entries than ever before and the finalists were of the highest quality. Inspirational, ambitious, passionate and sheer bloody minded are just a few of the words the judges used to describe them. Judging was very difficult and in many cases it was the smallest of margins separating the winners and runners-up.” Insider is media partner for the event with Barclays Bank the main sponsor. Liverpool Vision and Deloitte are co-sponsors. Mace & Jones, NMC Design & Print and Public Image are event partners.

Leaf Tea Shop & Bar in Liverpool, owned by Natalie Haywood, won the Best New Business award and a £20,000 prize. A tea shop by day and a live music venue by night, Leaf Tea Shop & Bar is a place where customers can sit, relax and chat with like-minded people. It stocks a huge number of loose leaf teas and showcases some of the best creative events in the country. Leaf aims to redefine a traditional drink category and bring tea drinking into the 21st century. In a very diverse category, the judges were impressed by Haywood's clear vision and determination. Runners-up (each winning £5,000): SPD CAD Services, Liverpool; Training Strategies, Liverpool.

Kris McDonald, who established Keyhole Productions in Liverpool, won the title of Best Young Entrepreneur and £10,000 for his business. Keyhole Productions is a multimedia company that works with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them the platform and skills to develop their creative dreams. It has different strands, from a youth engagement programme delivering film workshops, to a web platform that showcases unsigned bands, through to a photography studio. The judges thought that 23-year old McDonald's ability to diversify his specialist knowledge showed the entrepreneurship needed to succeed. Runners-up (each winning £2,500): James Clarke - True Reflections, Conwy; Amelia Nutting - Shuga Budz, Wolverhampton.

The Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise first prize of £12,500 was scooped by Elixir Foundations CIC. Based in Bootle, Elixir Foundations combines social and environmental objectives to create opportunities for vulnerable adults such as ex-offenders, people recovering from addiction and the long-term unemployed. Through commercial recycling and social housing activities, it has created 465 jobs, opened two recycling depots and helped more than 250 people improve their housing situation. In addition, 95 per cent of ex-offenders have not re-offended since employment. In a very strong category, the judges recognized Elixir’s phenomenal success in providing opportunities for people on the margins of society. Runners-up (each winning £5,000): Ykids - Claire Morgans, Bootle; The Dee-Tex Project - Saltney, Flintshire.

The winner of the Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise in Liverpool category, sponsored by Liverpool Vision and with a prize of £10,000, was The Reader Organisation. This charity is dedicated to bringing about a reading revolution. It promotes shared reading as a rehabilitative tool to build community and improve personal mental wellbeing. Beneficiaries include: people suffering deprivation, children in care, young people not in formal education, people with physical or mental health problems and it also works extensively with older people. The charity’s sheer professionalism and innovative way of developing literacy skills united the judges.

Wolverhampton-based Access to Business won the top prize of £12,500 in the Best Business Providing Social and/or Economic Contribution category. Access to Business is a 'not for profit' company established to support people into employment, self employment and training, with a specialism in supporting those with health problems and/or disability. Over the past three years, Access to Business has helped more than 2,500 clients. Its quiet grit and determination to succeed on behalf of those disadvantaged in the job market made a big impression on the judges. Runners-up (each winning £5,000): The Contact Company - Birkenhead; C&S Care Services - Wolverhampton.