Girl power at startup business awards (From The Northern Echo)

Girl power at startup business awards

3:51pm Wednesday 3rd August 2011 in Tyne & Wear Community News

The winners of the innovative uStartup Awards were revealed at the grand final on July 21st at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.

The four category winners were named as Jackie Sewell of Tomlinson’s Café & Bunkhouse, Michelle Matthews of TestCal, Susan Callcutt of Sunday Best Vintage and Victoria Dunn of Victoria Dunn Marketing Communications.

The uStartup Awards celebrate the success of new entrepreneurs and enterprises in the North East that have been trading less than 12 months. An audience of business professionals turned out at the black tie event to see the winners announced and awarded.

The awards organiser, Richard Laverick, believes the winners are great ambassadors of the new breed of entrepreneurs in the region: “When I had the concept to establish a business awards exclusively for companies in their first 12-months of trading, I had high expectation I would encounter some very passionate and determined startups. As the application and judging stage progressed it became apparent the caliber of the entries coupled with the growth potential of each winner was staggering.”

“Everyone who takes those early steps to establish their own enterprise should be very proud of themselves. Those who've made it to the final and indeed the people chosen from the pitch event as winners in their categories are in my view the ones to watch.”

Mrs Sewell, who runs a community café and activity centre in Rothbury, Northumberland, was awarded the top prize in the social enterprise category. It acts as a one stop shop for the community by providing a focal point with café facilities, budget accommodation, and cycle maintenance and repair services.

Marketing entrepreneur Mrs Dunn, who won the communications award, impressed the judges because of her passion for working with charitable organisations. The South Shields-based company specialises in supporting third sector organisations with tailored marketing and communications advice and implementation across the North East.

Winner of the business award, Mrs Callcutt established Sunday Best Vintage with her daughter, Kathryn Shepherd, when they were both put at risk of redundancy whilst working as lecturers in further education.

The pair had extensive experience in the hospitality industry and yearned for a more creative career. After receiving a number of compliments for their vintage functions from friends and family they decided to establish the business.

Sunday Best Vintage provides a vintage China hire, catering and hospitality service for clients looking to plan a bespoke and personalised event for their guests.

Winner of the technology award, Mrs Matthews, retails electrical check products that help electricians working in domestic environments to ensure building regulations are adhered too.

The company’s first product is the CalCard, a resistance checkbox used to verify the correct readings on an insulation and continuity ohm meter.

Three candidates from each category were shortlisted by judges from their applications. The candidates then gave a pitch about their businesses to the judges at a special event in late June at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.

The judges included key business and enterprise professionals from the region, including Donna Bulmer of Haines Watts, Myles Handley of Sunderland City Council, David Pattinson of MD Squared Solutions, Richard Laverick of uBrands, and Karen Wood of North East Social Enterprise Partnership (NESEP).

The awards have received widespread endorsements from local authorities and organisations, including Sunderland City Council, which are title sponsors. The Bdaily business network NE and Spark FM, are joint media partners, and category sponsors include Kashflow, NESEP and Haines Watts Accountants.

The four category winners received £500 of business products and services plus a hand crafted award.

Quotes from winners  Jackie Sewell, Tomlinson’s Café & Bunkhouse, said: “I am delighted to receive this wonderful accolade for mine and the community’s hard work. I have worked in partnership with a number of fantastic people and companies in Rothbury to create a hub activity. The café and activity centre has helped to attract tourism to the area, supported local businesses and most of all bought the community together.”

 Michelle Matthews, TestCal, said: “I am delighted to win the award for technology; it is overwhelming to receive recognition for the company’s achievements to date and also an honour that people can see our potential. The business is continually growing and we are now looking at developing a second product to retail; this will give us a better food hold in the marketplace.”

 Susan Callcutt, Sunday Best Vintage, said: “It is a real honour to win the business award; it is recognition for our achievement and also the unique service we provide at Sunday Best Vintage. As a small business we feel we demonstrate a lot of passion for what we are selling, we have drive and determination that we can exceed our customers’ expectations and deliver a quality service where they will want to tell others and come back for more.”

 Victoria Dunn, Victoria Dunn Marketing Communications: “It’s an honour and a privilege to win the communications awards at the uStartup Awards. I hope the charitable community takes advantage of my marketing services and experience as my business continues to flourish.”

Based on information supplied by Sarah Rudd.