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The Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards 2008
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Entrepreneurs honoured in awards ceremony
A Liverpool research consultancy was last night named Best New Business at the second annual Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards, held at the Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire. Curiosity Research, which was set up by Carl Wong in 2006, was awarded the £25,000 first prize in a competition created to encourage entrepreneurship in Merseyside, North Wales, West Cheshire, Shropshire and the Wolverhampton area. Wong wanted to create an action-orientated research consultancy and the judges were impressed with the company’s growth and ambition. Already employing ten people, Curiosity Research is keen to expand and create more jobs in Merseyside. Insider acted as media partner for the awards, which are sponsored by Barclays, with event partners Deloitte, Mace & Jones and Your Space. Cash prizes at the event totalled £105,000, with winners and runners up also receiving valuable professional services from the sponsor and supporters. Runners up in the best new business category, each receiving prizes of £5,000, were Cheshire-based Convert2Green and Chester’s Home Instead Senior Care.
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Best Young Entrepreneur
Kayleigh, Talia and Gerard Baccino of Liverpool were awarded with the £10,000 first prize in the Best Young Entrepreneur category for Trendy Vend, stylish vending machines for women’s washroom. The machines incorporate an LCD advertising screen that they hope to use to support public awareness campaigns. Only very recently launched, their energy and passion stood out in a very competitive category. Runners up, receiving £2,500 each, were: Ian Leadbetter of IRL Media and his ClickCashBack.co.uk website; and Victoria Corcoran and her Small Animal Hotel. 
Best Entrepreneurial Social Enterprise or Charity
All Saints Action Network of Wolverhampton walked away with the top prize of £10,000 in the Best Entrepreneurial Social Enterprise or Charity category. Founded in 1995 by a group of residents from the area of All Saints who were angry at the decline of their local economy and lack of opportunities for young people, the charity now runs four businesses and a range of community projects. Judges praised the team’s sustainability and the way they harnessed community spirit. Runners up receiving £2,500 each were: CREATE Liverpool, a non-grant dependent charity and social enterprise that recycles end-of-life household electrical appliances and provides work experience and training contracts for long-term unemployed or disadvantaged adults; and FRC Group, one of the UK's best-known social enterprises, which runs businesses to create profits and opportunities to improve the lives of people in poverty and unemployment.
Best Business providing Economic and/or Social Contribution
The top prize of £10,000 in the category for Best Business Providing Economic and/or Social Contribution was awarded to Kate Gorst of Altru Drama of Liverpool, a company that delivers high-quality, sustainable drama performances and workshops. The company uses drama to enable individuals and communities to deliver a message effectively, build confidence and self esteem, encourage cohesion and to develop their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Two runners up received cash prizes of £2,500: Wrexham-based Pace Telecom and Fun 4 Kidz of Merseyside.
Against All Odds
The finale to the night was the emotional Against All Odds prize of £25,000, which was awarded to Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Community Land Initiative. The family farm in North Shropshire was saved from development in June 2006 when over 8,000 people purchased non-profit making £50 shares. Now owned by its shareholders, the land and house are leased to Ben and Charlotte Hollins, while the Fordhall Community Land Initiative uses the same land for community benefit through events, volunteering and educational visits. The judges had an incredibly difficult task of awarding this prize from a list of worthy finalists: All Together Now! of Liverpool, Brighter Future Workshop of Skelmersdale, Macey & Bond Marquee Company of Wolverhampton, NMC Design+Print of Winsford, Cheshire, and Liverpool’s Open The Door Theatre In Education.
A word from the sponsors
Steve Morgan, chairman of Harrow Estates, the Bridgemere Group of Companies and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, who created The Morgan Foundation in 2001, said: “The quality of entries received this year was incredibly high. The judges have had a very challenging time deciding who to award the prizes to. I have been particularly delighted with the entrepreneurialism demonstrated by the charity and social enterprise finalists.” John Powell, corporate director, Barclays Commercial Bank, and chairman of the judging panel, said: “The calibre of this year’s entries was exceptional and Barclays Commercial Bank is proud to support the awards for the second year running. I’d like to congratulate all the entrants and we hope their stories will inspire other budding entrepreneurs, to come forward and turn their own business dreams into a reality.”
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