We’re pleased to announce our very first Blue Patch New Business Awards, providing a ‘boost’ for startups in Britain.
Visit us at www.bluepatch.org to find British made and sustainable products that are of exceptional quality – we’re a social enterprise too!
The prizes:
We’re giving three Awards to entrepreneurs who have launched a new business (under 2 years old).
One of our awards will be for a social enterprise (Blue Patch is proud to be a social enterprise – you can find out more at Social Enterprise UK)
The award will provide the winners with a Blue Patch microsite along with marketing support and the chance to participate in our event ‘Britain’s First Sustainable Department Store for the Day’ – Saturday October 1st in Dulwich, London.
The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, the IOEE would like to offer the three winners the opportunity to be involved in an Awards feature in the IOEE’s Mentoring and Enterprise August newsletter. The feature will include information of the event, photographs and information on the three winners to help celebrate their achievement! They will also receive IOEE Membership at Affiliate level, gaining access to IOEE’s online community to interact with other members and access enterprise resources and toolkits. As members, the winners will also be first to hear about our future events, including Meet A Mentor.
The application criteria:
You must be manufacturing, making, producing or providing a service in Britain and have an interest in sustainability.
Please visit the Blue Patch website to see the kinds of businesses we feature.
How to apply:
- Up to 150 words describing your business.
- Include your name, contact email, phone number and where your business is based.
- 2 – 4 good quality images.
- A link to your website and/or social media channels
- Please tell us if you are a social enterprise
Please put in the subject field: Blue Patch New Business Awards 2016
Email: team@bluepatch.org
Closing date: midnight April 25th 2016
Please sign up to our newsletter to find out the results.
Judges:
Ruth Lowbridge MBE is currently Executive Chair of the SFEDI Group of Companies, all of which promote and support enterprise and entrepreneurial skills development throughout the UK. As a business owner herself for over 20 years, with successful ventures including a chain of bistros, conference centre, software company and national training consultancy, Ruth knows more than most how it feels to start up and run an enterprise.
Sonia Meggie, Founder of Inspirational YOU; a London based social enterprise to connect, inspire and empower young people, women and ethnic minorities who want to make professional changes to their lives. Sonia featured in the Powerlist 2013, won the ‘Positive Role Model Award’ at the National Diversity Awards and an Inspirational Award at the BAFTA’s Back to Black Awards. In 2015 she was selected as one of the top African and Caribbean women of influence in the UK.
Mark Hampshire and Keith Stephenson, launched Mini Moderns in 2006. A highly successful interiors brand specialising in applied pattern across a range of products including wallpapers, fabrics, cushions, rugs and ceramics.
Lucy Mortimer, Founder of Galapagos Furniture, crafts beautiful furniture from vintage classics as well as bespoke English furniture made by skilled craftsmen and women in two workshop locations in Surrey and Nottinghamshire.
Leigh Sear, Chief Executive of SFEDI Solutions. Leigh has been Chief Executive of SFEDI for nearly five years and works with a range of organisations in the private, public and third sectors to understand and support enterprise learning and skills development.
Mike Freeman, Programme Manager of arc, Business in the Community’s flagship social enterprise support initiative. Mike has led the programme to achieve its first target of supporting social enterprises to grow and create 1000 new jobs in East London. The programme is on the way to creating another 1000 jobs in West London. Mike is now taking the programme beyond London and into the Yorkshire Dales, launching December 2015.
Julia Langley, Head of Communications at Blue Patch. Julia is a perceptive talent scout and is responsible for the curatorial ‘look and feel’ of Blue Patch. Julia is also a professional artist.
Good luck! The Blue Patch Team.
