Now grateful entrepreneurs have the chance to give something back by nominating these mentors for the coveted 2010 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) before 30th October 2009. Nominations can be made online at www.queensawards.org.uk/individual
Just 11 people in the UK received this prestigious Award in 2009, designed to recognise individuals doing their utmost to help and inspire tomorrow’s successful entrepreneurs. Among them was Jamie Murray Wells, the 26-year old entrepreneur and founder of online prescription glasses retailer, Glasses Direct who is the youngest ever person to be awarded The QAEP.
Jamie explained: “When I launched Glasses Direct five years ago, I was offered funding from ten business angels. But it wasn’t just the capital on offer that was useful – it was their invaluable mentoring advice which helped me really kick start the business and get it going. I now work with several up and coming entrepreneurs offering guidance from my experiences over the last few years and helping extend the ladder that I myself had to climb, to a new generation of business stars.”
One entrepreneur who has benefited from Jamie’s business expertise is Ryan Notz, founder of mybuilder.com, an innovative online marketplace for construction services. Jamie introduced the former stonemason to potential investors, marketing practitioners and enterprise support initiatives and helped him successfully raise his first funding round. As a result, mybuilder.com is now a multi-million pound business which boasts UK building materials retailer Travis Perkins as an investor.
Commenting on the importance of giving recognition to business mentors through The QAEP, Business Minister, Lord Mandelson said: “Recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion are outstanding individuals who are inspiring tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and giving them the skills and attitudes they need to succeed. They hold the key to unlocking Britain’s entrepreneurial talents and they deserve all the praise and thanks we can give them.”
Meanwhile, outstanding businesses of all sizes and from any industry sector are being urged to apply for the business categories of The Queen’s Awards, widely regarded as the UK’s highest honour for business success and the equivalent of a company knighthood.
Any UK-based business with two or more employees which can demonstrate outstanding and sustained commercial success in its field has a chance of winning a Queen’s Award. There are three categories of business Award: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development.
Businesses who win a Queen’s Award receive extensive benefits. A survey of last year’s winners found that in the first year alone, three quarters experienced extra press coverage, 82 per cent saw an increase in employee engagement and 68 per cent increased recognition abroad.
Winners also enjoy a company visit by a Royal representative during the year to present a commemorative crystal bowl, a special reception at Buckingham Palace and are entitled to use The Queen’s Award Emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years as a symbol of their quality and success.
For more information on all aspects of The Queen’s Awards visit www.queensawards.org.uk.
Royal search is on for UK’s top companies and business mentors
