Sponsored by
Awards finals beckon for promising start-ups
AN ECO wedding stationery business and an environmental coaching firm have outperformed hundreds of entrepreneurs to reach the northern regional finals of a competition designed to seek out the most promising start-up companies in the UK.
Dee Grismond, founder of Cherrygorgeous, and Adam Woodall, who created PeopleProfitPlanet, both based in Leeds, are the hoping to scoop the top title and a cheque for 50,000 in the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.
Cherrygorgeous, offers eco-aware couples planning their wedding a choice of stationery that matches their beliefs. The firm uses 80 per cent recycled, FSC accredited, chlorine-free card to produce invitations, orders of service, menus, seating plans and all wedding-related stationery.
Printing is digital, using local printers, and the company claims to be the first carbon-neutral wedding stationery business in the UK.
The PeopleProfitPlanet service turns environmental policies and intentions into green action.
Using strategies from coaching, team-building and other personal development techniques, this environmental business coaching service is designed to motivate and empower both staff and management to take an active part in increasing sustainability.
The company has worked with a range of clients from small businesses to major corporations.
Cherrygorgeous and PeopleProfitPlanet are two of 20 companies to secure a place in the northern regional finals. Their entries will now be considered by a local panel of business experts who will select the top 10 start-up companies in the North to go forward to the national judging. The overall winner will be revealed on October 29.
Huw Morgan, HSBC's head of business banking, said: "The 2008 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards are the biggest and best yet. Last year, HSBC alone helped nearly 130,000 new ventures get off the ground, and this is representative of the entrepreneurial talent that exists in Britain today.
"Many are still only small businesses, but with big ideas. We are proud Start-Up Stars can contribute to their aspirations and that the awards play a pivotal role in identifying the business leaders of the future."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
- Strategic review will lead to job losses at Yorkshire Bank
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
