High profile businessman named head judge for EY’s Midlands Entrepreneur Of The Year
BUSINESS troubleshooter Lord Jones of Birmingham has been announced as the head of the Midlands judging panel for this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year competition.
He will be joined on the 12-strong panel by other well-known business leaders in the Midlands, including previous Entrepreneur Of The Year winners: Jim McCarthy, chief executive of Black Country-based retailer Poundland and Simon Ward, of Inspired Thinking Group.
Andrew Spence, partner sponsor for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Midlands, said: “The confirmed panel of judges reflects the strength and diversity of entrepreneurs and business leaders we have in the Midlands, and we’re delighted to welcome Lord Digby Jones as chair of our 2016 judging panel.
“Entrepreneurs make a vital contribution to the Midlands economy and it’s important to celebrate their successes and nurture these high growth businesses of the future. The last 12 months have seen some outstanding entrepreneurial successes across the region, and now we’re looking for the most innovative and disruptive entrepreneurs to be named among the next generation of legacy builders.”
The judging panel in full is:
1. Lord Jones of Birmingham
2. Tracy Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Wacoal Europe
3. Jim McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Poundland
4. Melanie Mills, Director of Big Society Capital
5. Jonathan Halford, Chairman of RTP
6. Tim Whittard, Investment Director of Business Growth Fund
7. Nick Brayshaw, Chairman of Stadium Group
8. Simon Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Inspired Thinking Group
9. Ian Lister, Chief Executive of Greenray
10. Phil Hodgkinson, Global Director of Jaguar Land Rover
11. Ninder Johal, President of Black Country Chamber of Commerce
12. Sharon Redrobe, Chief Executive Officer at Tycross Zoo.
Entries for this year’s competition are open until Friday, March 11 2016 and once again, TheBusinessDesk.com is partnering with EY to promote the event.
Applicants need to demonstrate entrepreneurial flair whilst growing or turning around the fortunes of their organisation – whether private or listed, socially orientated, family-owned or private equity backed, across all commercial and industrial sectors.
Finalists from each region will be announced in April and the winners revealed at exclusive awards dinners in June spanning the UK’s four Entrepreneur Of The Year regions; the Midlands, London & South, North and Scotland. Regional winners will then go on to compete for the overall Entrepreneur Of The Year UK title at the final in October.
Last year’s overall UK Entrepreneur Of The Year award was won by Richard Steeves, founder and CEO of Swindon-based Synergy Health, who will compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year title in Monaco later this year.
Further details on how to enter are available by contacting Andrew Spence on 0121 535 2887 or aspence1@uk.ey.com or by visiting www.eoy.co.uk.
