Local firms jockeying for winning line at business awards

Firms from across Coventry and Warwickshire are well positioned to produce their own gold rush in the finals of next year’s Midlands Business Awards.

Simon Hill, who runs Coventry-based Summit Marketing Solutions, which installs advertising display equipment in shops and offices, is in the final five in the Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year category and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year finals.

Coventry businesswoman Becki Coombe of training company the Learn 2 Group is also a finalist in the Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year category, as is Brian Castellino of Machine Vision Technology. The Leamington Spa-based company provides systems that allow microscopic measurements to be made of production processes, including things such as colour analysis of products.

Steven Timberlake of Hidden Eden is a nominee in the Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the Year category. The 24-year-old has built the gardening store concept with two shops in Leamington and Solihull, with a significant online presence. Joining him in this category is Kate Vincent, owner of Super Pooch, a dog walking and pet supplies service based in Coventry.

Both Brian and Steven are also finalists in the crème de la crème Midlands Business Person of the Year section.

Ivan Vickers, of Coventry-based business development firm Tri-Phase Business Solutions, is shortlisted for the Midlands Networker of the Year prize and Alan Watts’ AW Autotec, which services customers’ cars at their homes or place of work, is up for the Midlands Service Provider prize.

Four separate companies from the Leamington area are in line for the Midlands Innovation of the Year award. Light Media, run by MD Tony Probert and his team in Kenilworth Street, specialises in growing customers’ web presence and in e-learning applications; Babynobumps, run by Susan Port, supplies protective soft helmets that cushion babies from falls as they learn to sit up, crawl and walk.

Alumet Systems Ltd of Southam, which has expanded from a fabrication and installation service for aluminium windows and curtain walling to a 100-plus employee design, manufacture, installation and maintenance company, is also in the running, as is Machine Vision Technology Ltd, based at Blackdown Mill on Kenilworth Road.

Stratford-on-Avon businessman Bill Leech is aiming to make his a double celebration.
His firm, The Henley Business Group, is a specialist business broker helping firms’ owners to sell their manufacturing, distribution or service business and these firms typically have annual sales from £350,000 to £7.5 million. It also helps owners looking to sell part of their business to new equity partners.

Bill has won his way through to the final five in the Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year section and the Networker of the Year.

In addition, three business networking groups from the region are among those contesting the Midlands Networking Club of the Year final. They are Synergy 4 Business, Coventry Business over Breakfast Club and Coventry Business Network.

Meanwhile, Coventry University is in the last five of the Enterprising University of the Year category. And to round things off, local MP Geoffrey Robinson will receive an award to mark his contribution to Midlands business.

The awards are now in their fourth year and have grown annually. They culminate in a gala dinner and ceremony to be held on Friday 29January 2010 at the NEC Hilton Metropole Hotel. This year’s guest of honour will be Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Harj Sandher, MD of UK Special Events, the company behind the awards, said: “Feedback from the judges indicates that the awards are growing in popularity and in quality. That makes their job much harder and some of the debates on the finalists have been very intense.

“We keep saying that the range of talent in the Midlands is huge and the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking and it has never been more true. Our winners to date have found the whole experience extremely positive.”

An independent panel of judges will evaluate all the entries and the five businesses that make the final shortlist will be asked to present their case in person.