Pet businesses lap up £15,000 at awards
TWO pet services businesses were last night lapping up the praise – and £15,000 in prize money – at an awards ceremony for start-up companies in east Manchester.
Dog massage and grooming company Barking Barbers, based in Openshaw, won the grand prix £10,000 EnterPrize Award.
Set up by Angel Dominic Moore, Barking Barbers is more than just your average dog grooming service. It provides reiki healing and massage, natural remedies, and essential oil beauty treatments for dogs, as well as selling pet accessories through its website.
Mr Moore said: “The prize will help me develop a new online dog forum providing advice for dog owners and launch a new holistic dog grooming salon.
“I want to be part of the changing face of dog grooming in the UK by encouraging better care and understanding of pets through knowledge.”
A second award of £5,000 went to yet another pet related business – this time Hound Helpers, run by Sarah Roper. Ms Roper’s pet services company offers dog walking, pet sitting, pet transportation and pet supplies.
Ms Roper said: “I’m so excited about where this £5,000 prize will take my business. Buying a larger van alone will help double my projected turnover for next year.”
The awards ceremony was held at Gorton Monastery, with architect Ian Simpson, the man behind the city’s iconic Beetham Tower, the keynote speaker.
Regeneration company New East Manchester set up the scheme three years ago to encourage economic growth through entrepreneurship. The £10,000 prize was funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and New Deal for Communities, while the £5,000 came from Manchester Solutions.
