EnterPrize Award winners announced

The three winners of the fifth East Manchester EnterPrize Awards for local businesses were announced last night at Gorton Monastery.

Organised by urban regeneration company New East Manchester and funded in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Manchester City Council, the winners beat off stiff competition from nearly ninety other entrants to be one of six shortlisted and have already won £3,000 each.

The over-all winners who scooped the top prize of an additional £7,000 were 4D creative. Based in Hope Mill in Ancoats, they design and install immersive learning spaces in primary and secondary schools for children of all abilities. They transform ordinary classrooms into bespoke, user friendly, instantly adaptable environments in which to stimulate, encourage and develop creative thinking through light, sound, projection and space. Set up just this year by Ben Willetts and Cathy Cross, who both have backgrounds in stage lighting, sound and theatre production, the company's turnover has grown by half a million pounds in the last six months and they are now looking to expand their product into hospitals.

The prize money will be spent on tailor-made software and also invested in obtaining intellectual property rights on their products.

Carol Bartram, Head of Economic Development at New East Manchester and chair of the judging panel, commenting on the winners said: "I really believe 4D Creative are going to be world leaders in their field. The panel were unanimous in their decision that this company were the out-right winners. The way Ben and Cathy run their business is exemplary, with excellent cash flow and currently £500, 000 of orders on their books. They have grown their staff from two to seven in the past six months and also use local suppliers for installation work, creating further job opportunities."

The enterprising duo that picked-up the East Manchester Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award were Lee Gilbert and Glen Kirk both aged 27 from Gorton whose company is Key for the City. They received a further £2,000 as well as business support services. This award is sponsored jointly by One Central Park (OCP), University of Manchester Incubation Company (UMIC) and Manchester Science Parks (msp) and is given to an individual or business partners who are under 30 years of age and whose company has been trading for less than three years.

Key for the City is a lifestyle membership discount card that currently has 90 businesses signed up including restaurants, bars and nightclubs, health and beauty providers, entertainment venues, hotels, car hire, and many more individual providers in the leisure and lifestyle sector in the Greater Manchester area.

Marj Boyer, chief executive of One Central Park, one of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsors said: "These are two fantastic local lads based in East Manchester, who have shown total commitment by building this business whilst also holding down other full-time jobs. Their enthusiasm and belief in their product really showed and they have well structured plans for market expansion in a sector with real growth potential."

The third and final award, the Rising Star Award, sponsored by MEN Weekly papers was awarded to Richard Salisbury (aged 32) who is the founder of Pedal Precision. Richard retained as a physiotherapist after a serious illness and combined his love of cycling with this new skill. He set up Pedal Precision last year, with the help of a New East Manchester business start-up grant, to provide bespoke bike fitting services as well as injury treatment and prevention to all levels of cyclist, from commuter to professional racer. The business also helps cyclists buy bicycle components and accessories that have been specifically chosen for their injury prevention, ergonomic or performance benefits.

Based at the Manchester Velodrome, Richard acts as a physio and bike fitter to the British cycling team.

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "East Manchester has always been a very enterprising part of the city so it is fitting that we continue to celebrate this through the EnterPrize Awards which recognise and reward talented businesses and entrepreneurs. These winners are all shining examples of what can be achieved through commitment and hard work."

Mark Hughes, Acting Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: "It is excellent to see the entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in east Manchester. Enterprise and innovation help to drive business growth in east Manchester and it is important to recognise those businesses who are doing well and the committed individuals behind them."

In addition to the main sponsor, the NWDA, other sponsors include Blue Orchid, One Central Park and Adactus Housing Association.

For more information on the New East Manchester EnterPrize awards see http://www.thenementerprize.co.uk/ or visit http://www.east-manchester.com/.