Enterprise Enfield is delighted to reveal the winners of its third Business Awards 2008 competition sponsored by The RSA Trust.  The winners in each of the four categories were announced at the Awards ceremony held at the Royal Chace Hotel, Enfield on Thursday 30th October attended by 140 people including the Mayor of Enfield, Cllr Lee Chamberlain, businesses, and representatives from Enfield Council, London Development Agency and other business support organisations. 

Enterprise Enfield is the local enterprise agency providing information, expert advice and seminars for people setting up in business as well as those developing existing businesses.  Its annual competition, open to all Enfield based businesses and Enterprise Enfield clients (up to 50 employees), was developed to recognize, reward and promote the excellence of local businesses and their achievements in four categories. It was judged by representatives from North London Chamber of Commerce, Barclays, KIS Training, North London Enterprise Club, Barclays, Middlesex University, Enfield Council and Enterprise Enfield. 

First prize winners in each of the categories were awarded with £1,000 and second prize winners received £500.  The prize funding for the Start-Up, Green Business and High Growth Business of the Year Awards were all generously provided by The RSA Trust and the Innovative Business of the Year Award prize was sponsored by Barclays. 

Many of the Enfield based winners have received a significant amount of support and assistance from Enterprise Enfield which has enabled them to build their businesses successfully.  For more information about Enterprise Enfield’s services including business advice, guidance and seminars visit www.EnterpriseEnfield.org or call 020 8443 5457.

Start-Up Business of the Year (under 2 years of trading)

Winner:             Sparkle & Wow, Sonia Abrams

Contact:              0845 234 0528, www.sparkleandwow.co.uk

The winner in this category was Sparkle & Wow, Sonia Abrams. The business, which was established in December 2006, specialises in organising weddings and events, designed to give the “wow Factor” without the exuberant costs. Sonia has recently raised £40,000 funding through The London Development Agency Access to Finance Programme through Enterprise Enfield, to help her business become investment ready through the development of a business plan and financials. This has enabled her to move the business from her home in Edmonton into new offices in leafy Cockfosters, enabling her to live her dream.  Sonia says:

“My Business Adviser at Enterprise Enfield worked hard with me to put together a business plan that was accepted by the first funder it was presented to.  This enabled me to resign from my job and give the time that was needed to build Sparkle and Wow”

More recently Sparkle and Wow has been selected as a finalist for The 2008 Wedding Retailer Awards. With a strong marketing and PR background, Sonia has negotiated a partnership arrangement with John Lewis, Bang & Oulfsen, and Champney’s to support her many wedding fares she organises throughout the year. Based upon Sonia’s determination and her robust business model the judges considered Sparkle and Wow a highly deserving candidate for this award.

Runner up:         JO JO Mangoes, Angela Watkins and Joanna

                           Gunter

Contact:               07932 045599, www.jojomangoes.com

The runner up for the Start Up category went to Angela Watkins and Joanna Gunter from JO JO Mangoes, an online retail business that has a range of stylish and funky clothes, toys and unique gifts for babies and children up to 8 years old. This is an ideal product for fashion conscious parents who want to buy something special for their children or as a gift. The Dinky T range provides a range of custom printed organic t-shirts for newborns which are individually printed with the name, and birth weight of the baby.

Angela and Joanna both have amazing multi tasking skills, and have managed to juggle family life, (having five children between them ages from 10 months to 7 years), and running a successful business.  Their range of products has featured on the catwalk alongside retail giants such as John Lewis and Mothercare and has received coverage in national magazines. NOW Magazine’s, Mother & Baby Special featured one outfit which was on the shelves nationally for 6 weeks in May.

High Growth Business of the Year (over 2 years of trading)

Winner:        The Courier Service Same Day Ltd, Denise Fresco

                    and Mark Oliver

Contact:        0870 2244447, www.thecourierservice.co.uk

The winner of this category was The Courier Service Same Day Ltd, Denise Fresco and Mark Oliver.  This Edmonton based business was chosen for this award as it was clear that this was a company that had demonstrated an enthusiasm for expansion and shown a determination to succeed through sheer hard work.  It has been a tribute to Mark and Denise that they have embraced the challenges of expanding their business in a highly competitive environment.

The judges recognised that the key to the company’s expansion had been their commitment to excellent service and customer care, and this had been reflected in the steady growth in the customer base. Their current development plans had focused on broadening their range of customers, and, to this end, the infrastructure of the company had been geared up to ensure adequate and flexible resources were available to meet the workload, both now and in the future.

It was clear that the directors had been very conscious to ensure that their own individual skills had been maximised in order to drive the business forward; in particular Denise’s undoubted ability in networking and sales with Mark ensuring the delivery schedules and customer satisfaction were maintained at a high level.

The judges had noted that the company’s recent expansion into new offices, increased staffing levels and investment in state of the art IT systems were instrumental in ensuring they were in a strong position to both operate efficiently and project a professional image to attract new customers.  The company turnover has risen by 46% over the past year without any adverse effect on profitability. This has been an excellent result and this award recognizes this achievement.

Both Denise and Mark receive regular business advice and guidance from Enterprise Enfield adviser, Peter Saggers, who Denise says “has been a real help over the last two years, and his support is exceptional.”

Runner up:   Goodlooking Optics Ltd, Garry and Dinos Kousoulou

Contact:         0208 364 4444, www.goodlookingoptics.co.uk

Good Looking Optics, owned by Garry and Dinos Kousoulou, was chosen as a runner up for this High Growth award in recognition of the company’s drive to increasing its turnover in a competitive market whilst at the same time ensuring its commitment to service standards and value for money was not compromised.

In a time when the ophthalmic industry tends to be dominated by the major players such as Specsavers, with powerful advertising budgets, and Tesco’s in-house opticians, Good Looking Optics has concentrated on giving its customers exceptional service.  From in store music creating a relaxed atmosphere to encouraging customers to come into the store at any time - either for adjustments to their spectacles or even to just have a cup of coffee.  Clearly this investment in people has paid off with the business obtaining a substantial level of new customers- 65% are generated from referrals from existing satisfied customers.

The judges were also impressed with the range of profile raising initiatives Garry and Dinos had implemented to support growth objectives,  in particular the sponsorship of a local football team and work experience placement for local schools.  Goodlooking Optics is now looking to develop its second outlet, based on the same core values of customer service and enthusiastic staff that have proved so successful over the past year

Green Business of the Year

Winner:             Queen Anne Care, Pamela Kelly 

Contact:              020 8882 2336, www.queenanncare.com

Its Manager, Pamela Kelly, is enthusiastic and determined to reduce the company’s impact on the environment and has introduced a recycling and environmental policy which includes activities such as composting, recycling rubbish, batteries, lightbulbs and using environmentally friendly local suppliers.  Newsletters are produced online, paper is shredded for recycling and plastic bags are no longer used.  The company is even growing its own fruit and vegetables and has applied for an allotment.

The environmental activities at Queen Anne Care have a dual purpose of engaging its clients by raising their environmental awareness as part of the therapy service they receive.

As well as reducing its impact on the environment, Queen Anne Care has also made significant savings - over £500 pa reduction in utility bills and £250 pa reduction in the cost of waste collection.   It has also invested in staff development - ensuring key staff followed the Middlesex University course on recycling – and achieving the Eco Step logo.  The commitment and dedication shown by Queen Anne Care to implementing environmentally friendly practices has earned the business first place in this category.

Runner up:        Smartbags, Leanne Dal Santo & Matt Lewis 

Contact:              020 8242 4468, www.smartbags.co.uk

Smartbags, run by Leanne Dal Santo and Matt Lewis, is a young business which has positioned itself well given the growing consumer consciousness about recycling.  It is estimated that 10 billion plastic bags are issued in the UK each year, even though most are reused at least once, reduction in consumption would have a positive impact on the environment.  Smartbags supplies eco friendly bags – otherwise known as “bags for life” which help reduce landfill and waste.

Smartbags has clearly started to establish itself successfully in the market place – making sales of over 150,000 bags in their first year and persuading companies to provide reusable options to single use bags.  The business partners, Matt and Leanne, regard the environment as a central part of the business and make decisions to minimise the effect both as individuals and as a business.  They use green suppliers, recycle waste and their bags are shipped.

The owners are members of the Ethical Fashion Forum, network with other businesses in the environmental sector and market their products through various green directories to attract business.   They are evidently dedicated and committed to the green cause which is why they were chosen for this award.

Barclays Innovative Business of the Year

Winner:           Choolips, Annegret Affolderbach

Contact:            07779033276, www.choolips.blogspot.com 

The winner in this category, sponsored by Barclays, was Choolips, Annegret Affolderbach.  Choolips is a ground-breaking ethical fashion and textile design company specialising in the design of innovative textiles and womenswear.  The judges considered Choolips was an excellent business model which focuses on innovative methods of textile production and ethical fashion that looks to champion equitable and fair trade principles.

Combining successes with an ethical and innovative approach, Choolips has earned contracts with Coca Cola, has its own brand in TOPSHOP and has received a large amount of press attention.  Its trend-setting collection of dresses applying Ghanaian batik prints won ‘Best Global Commercial Design & Print’ at the Design4LifeGhana Award in 2006 which was snapped up by TOPSHOP. The range was a sell-out making a difference to lives of Ghanaian producers, earning them 13-times their average wage!

Inspired by the limitations of Batik stamps used in Ghana, which are designed and carved by hand using latex mattresses, Annegret is currently innovating Batik stamps by introducing new technology enabling complex and trendsetting print design to be etched into a new stamp material.  

Annegret is currently developing her next range of prints and dresses in Ghana which will be sold in TOPSHOP and other retailers during spring/ summer of 2009. In recognising the support she received from Enterprise Enfield in starting and developing her business, Annegret explains:-

“My business adviser at Enterprise Enfield supported me every first step in business. She offered her insight on all practical steps from writing business plans, funding applications and implementing all my plans to giving guidance. She was a rock and helped me uncover my true potential!”

Runner up:       Ritec International Ltd, Stephen and Karen Byers

Contact:            020 8344 8210, www.ritec.co.uk

Stephen and Karen Byers, initially started an import/ export company dealing in speciality chemicals having worked for many years in large multinational chemical companies, over a period of time they developed a saleable chemical process for glass, and formed Ritec as the company to market the process commercially.

Ritec pioneered durable glass surface protection by developing the first, and still the only, complete system for glass renovation, protection and maintenance.  The ‘ClearShield System’ provides durable glass surface protection with “non-stick”, easy to clean, low-maintenance performance – for exterior and interior glass in all types of buildings, marine vessels and transportation vehicles – including windows, doors, conservatories, shower enclosures, decorative glass and architectural glass in high-rise buildings

In addition to protecting glass, the technology developed also makes glass “non-stick”, easy to clean and stain-resistant – like Teflon on metal.  Over a number of years of product improvements and innovative marketing themes, this technology is recognised within the glass industry as the pioneer and market leader.