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 coup
les 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."
