Ernst & Young launches Entrepreneur of the Year

ERNST & Young’s 2011 Entrepreneur Of The Year awards programme is now open for nominations.

Sponsored by Credit Suisse in the UK, the annual competition is held in 135 cities across 50 countries and has been running for 24 years.

It has recognised the achievements of some of the North West’s leading business figures including: Dr Michael Edelman of Nanoco Group; Richard Tang of Zen Internet; Michael Oliver of Oliver Valves; and Elfed Thomas at i3 Group.

This year’s judging panel includes Alan White, chief executive of Manchester-based home shopping retailer N Brown Group and Angela Spindler, chief executive of The Original Factory Shop Group in Burnley.

The programme starts at a regional level and the winners then progress to the UK finals. The overall UK winner goes on to compete for the title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year in Monte Carlo.

Simon Allport, senior partner at Ernst & Young’s Manchester office, said: “For many entrepreneurial businesses, the last two years have involved significant focus on preserving and optimising capital in the face of significant market turmoil and pressure.  

“Whilst these continue to be important areas of focus, the rate of future growth is going to be driven by strategic investment decisions, in many cases to drive growth through acquisition or to enter new geographic markets such as the BRIC countries, and the ability to raise new capital.  

“The UK’s entrepreneurs have shown great resilience in continuing to grow their businesses in the face of adversity and it will be interesting to see how the most successful have been addressing the complex issues presented by the very different geographic growth rates around the globe, which we are now experiencing.”

Enter online at www.eoy.co.uk or call the Entrepreneur Of The Year enquiry line on 0845 604 1012.