Hackney News November 2005
Mayor's Business Awards
Millionaire entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar joined Hackney’s Mayor Jules Pipe and hundreds of Hackney business people last Thursday to celebrate the best of Hackney’s business achievements at the presentation of the inaugural annual Mayor of Hackney’s Business Excellence Awards.
Sir Alan, star of the Apprentice, Amstrad entrepreneur and former chair of Tottenham Hotspur FC, cut his first business deal on the streets of Hackney, and has always been a keen supporter of the borough. He came to the event, attended by Hackney businesspeople, and held a question and answer session where local entrepreneurs were given the chance to quiz him on the secrets of his success. Sir Alan then presented the first award of the night to a group of students from Skinner’s Company School for Girls who won the Best New Business Idea category.
Sir Alan said, “Hackney is a fantastic place, full of creativity and talent and I am delighted to help celebrate the achievements of the borough's entrepreneurs. Hackney has always been a great place to do business and I am glad to see the borough going from strength to strength.” He added: “The shortlisted entrants and winners should feel very proud of themselves. They have come out top in a very strong field.”
Mayor Pipe said ‘It was a great event and it made me very proud to see all the talent and creativity that exists in the Hackney business community being celebrated. “When I was asked by the Hackney Enterprise Network to put my name to a business awards scheme, I welcomed the chance to get involved with something that would recognise the hard work and innovation taking place.”
Mayor Pipe also announced the launch of the Hackney Young Enterprise Network and called on local businesspeople to give young people in the borough their first break by offering work experience or by being a business mentor to a young person in the borough.
Best New Business Idea (14-19)
Students of Skinner’s Company School with Al-Cote giftware. The Al-Coté team worked with Link Teacher Iain Sachdev and a business adviser from HSBC to develop their innovative handcrafted, personalised gifts and products business idea.
Best Young Enterprise (18-30)
Natasha Mason with Tasty-Kitchen Couture. A range of fun and stylish designer kitchen products, which has already been signed up by Selfridges.
Best New Start-Up Business
Laura McCaffrey & Nicola Hill with Gay Friendly Wedding Venues. An on-line directory of gay friendly wedding services and venues targeting a new niche market resulting from the Civil Partnership Act.
Best New Innovation
Mark Hardwick with Ymogen Limited. An advanced digital commerce platform, exploiting opportunities being offered through the internet and digital communications, and providing a complete service handling the technical and regulatory requirements of digital commerce.
Best Women’s Business
Barbara Kaucky and Susann Tutsch with Erect Architecture. A dynamic female run architecture practice which has succeeded in the male dominated world of construction.
Best Environmental Practice
David Watson and Thea Mehl with the Green Bottle Unit. The project claims to be a world wide first in its field and successfully manufactures striking and original 100% recycled glass products.
Best Ethnic Minority Business
Timur Ekingen with Ekonomi. A glossy niche publication targeting and supporting the UK’s Turkish speaking business community .
Best Social Enterprise
Dieneke Ferguson and Manual Ruiz-Adame with Mazorca Projects Limited. A membership not-for-profit organisation supporting and promoting designer-makers, best known for its Hidden Art initiatives.
Best Product Design
Magnus Long and the Standing Hanger. An internationally exhibited coat hanger design set to become a British design classic.
Hackney Gazette Award for
Best Business 2005
David Watson and Thea Mehl with the Green Bottle Unit.
Page updated: 28 Feb 2007