North West Business Masters: The Newcomers

FIVE rising stars of the North West business scene will compete for the prestigious title of Newcomer in the first-ever North West Business Masters awards next month.

The shortlisted companies will learn their fate, along with the contneders in five other categories, on April 7 at the high profile event at The Point at Lancashire Cricket Club.

The contenders for the Newcomer title are:

Envestors – Launched just over a year ago Envestors is a private investor Envestorsnetwork providing early-sage funding for companies with high growth potential. The business is run by managing director Tom Wilkins and backed by three partners, successful North West businessmen Imran Hakim, Mike Perls and Scott Fletcher. As well as investing themselves, Envestors enables high net-worth individuals to take stakes in exciting companies, potentially offering higher returns. In October last year, after nine months in business and with an investment network of 750, North West venture capitalist Amin Amiri took a 20% stake in Envestors. Since launch Envestors has raised £2.4m for five businesses.

Kate HardcastleInsight with Passion – Set up in 2009, Warrington-based Insight with Passion has rapidly built a base of more than 20 clients who benefit from its “business transformation” expertise. Founders Kate Hardcastle and Richard Gomersall, who both have a background in marketing, have turned their attention to working with the likes of The Co-operative Group and Famco, the owner of the Silentnight brand, to help them maximise their potential. They say their boutique service allows them to provide a tailored plan for all aspects of a company.

Journey9 UK – Marketing agency Journey9 UK was launched in January 2010 byLaura Wolfe entrepreneur Laura Wolfe. It has already picked up some major clients, including Jaguar, BDO and United Utilities, and was profitable after just a few months. It employs four people and is recruiting two more. The highlight of its first year was a high profile ‘Manchester Celebrates Jaguar’ campaign for the carmaker last May. During the month Journey9 delivered or supported 19 events attended by over 4,500 people and arranged 200 test drives. It also commissioned a short film for Jaguar shot by Hollywood director Derrick Borte in Tatton Park.

David Grimes, myparceldeliveryMyParcelDelivery.com – This Manchester-based firm was born out of frustration with traditional means of parcel delivery. Launched less than a year ago by young entrepreneurs David Grimes, 28, pictured, and Paul Haydock, 26, myParcelDelivery.com expects to turn over between £1.5m-£2m by its first anniversary in June. The business was launched by Cambridge University graduates David and Paul after they became fed up with having to queue at the Post Office to send parcels to customers of their first business venture, promotional products company Xenon-54. MyParcelDelivery.com works with the major parcel delivery companies such as DHL. City Link, TNT and Home Delivery Network, to provide small businesses and eBay sellers a cost effective and reliable means of shipping their parcels nationally and internationally.

Smoking Gun PR – Set up by husband and wife team Rick and Vanessa Rick Guttridge, Smoking Gun PRGuttridge, Smoking Gun entered the market in January 2010. Despite the recession it picked up a number of major clients and has seen revenue increase in each successive quarter. The Manchester firm’s clients include the Welsh Assembly Government, Manchester United, Carcraft and Northern Foods. It says its targeted media relations, flexible fee model and a commitment to ongoing client training set it apart from the crowd.

Click here to cast your vote. Winners of will be announced at a high profile awards lunch at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club on April 7.

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