Entrepreneurial Spark start-ups recognised for their achievements

BUDDING entrepreneurs from across the West Midlands have been rewarded for the enterprise by a Birmingham-based accelerator programme.

The entrepreneurs have shared handouts totalling £10,000, which have been awarded by the Entrepreneurial Spark Acceler8 awards.

The event, hosted in conjunction with NatWest and KPMG, brought together fledgling businesses working out of the Entrepreneurial Spark hub at the bank’s offices in St Philip’s Place.

The firms recognised included Chiclets Football Road Trips and C-Seeker, which were each awarded £2,000.

Entrepreneur Matthew Inniss, of Fitnniss also walked away with £3,000 to help grow his business.

He said: “The Acceler8 event is a fantastic opportunity to get together with the other Chiclets based in Birmingham. I’ve learnt so much already from my time at Entrepreneurial Spark and I’ve got loads more ideas on how to improve my business.”

Jim Duffy, founder and chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: “The Acceler8 Awards are a tremendous way of rewarding the hard work and determination we see from our Chiclets across the country.”

Lee Currier, Entrepreneur Development Manager at NatWest, said: “Congratulations to all the award winners. It’s been fantastic to be a part of the Acceler8. The Chiclets have shown a tremendous amount of passion, creativity and commitment to their businesses over these last three months.”

Stephen Craik, Head of Enterprise at KPMG in the Midlands, said: “The Acceler8 awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Birmingham-based Chiclets, all of whom exemplify our city and region’s creativity, drive and ambition. It’s great to see the difference the Entrepreneurial Spark programme has made to the winners, and to see them in turn setting a great example to other start-ups hoping to become the big businesses of tomorrow.”