News
Institute of Directors announces North West Director of the Year 2010 finalists
Following an intensive judging process, the Institute of Directors (IoD) North West has announced its finalists for the prestigious Director of the Year Awards 2010.
The finalists, shown below, were narrowed down from 160 entries from directors across the North West region, following an in-depth interview process led by Armstrong Craven.
Darrell Matthews, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West, commented: “The judging panel was extremely impressed by the high number of outstanding directors who were nominated in 2010 following another difficult year for business, and I believe this list of nominees is a prime example of what the North West has to offer.
Cumbria Director of the Year
Maria Whitehead - The Hawkshead Relish Company
Paul Hopper - Northern Securities
Cheshire Director of the Year
Chris Harrison - Fresenius Kabi
Brendan Hynes - Nichols
Rob Crossland - Parasol
Cheshire Young Director of the Year
Steve Swift - Aerelink
Marc Duschenes - Braemar
Gary Smith - Prism
Manchester Director of the Year
Phil Jones - Brother
Mottie Kessler - 2M
Peter Schofield - Tetrosyl
Manchester Young Director of the Year
Ben Davies - The Neighbourhood
Fajer Rabia - Inspired Sisters
Richard Tang - Zen internet
Liverpool Director of the Year
Elfred Thomas - i3
Matt Johnson - Mando
Andrew McNair - OSS
Liverpool Young Director of the Year
Rob Maxwell - Aztec
Phil Hodgkinson - Compass Cost Consultants
Daniel Davies - CPL
Lancashire Director of the Year
Peter Cousins - Brighter Futures
Jane Scott - Keystage Teacher Supplies
Kevin Moseley - SwimFin
Lancashire Young Director of the Year
Simon Cutler - Elite
Richard Freye - Service Care
Natasa Sabanovic - Whittle Eastern Europe
Yorkshire Bank Akroyd Award
Phil Hodgkinson - Compass Cost Consultants
Maria Whitehead - The Hawkshead Relish Company
Gary Smith - Prism
International Director of the Year
Chris Purslow - ATG Willard
Gavin Wheeldon - ALS
Mark Greaves - Flowcrete
Ann Jordan, Regional Chair of the IoD and in charge of the judging panel, commented: “Business directors need to act decisively in an uncertain economy to help steer their businesses and employees through tough times, or on to new opportunities, and we looked for these attributes during the judging process. As a result, we have a phenomenally high-calibre of finalists in this year’s awards, and I look forward to seeing the final results at the awards dinner in October.”
This year’s winners will be announced on 7th October at the Hilton Hotel Deansgate, with the awards ceremony being hosted by BBC TV’s Nicholas Owen.
To reserve a table or buy single tickets for the Black Tie Gala Awards Dinner please contact Andrea Lowe on 0161 247 7634.
Manchester entrepreneurs complete 100k Challenge
Over the past five days, 10 top businessmen have put their physical strength and entrepreneurial spirit to the test during an epic 100k Challenge across Europe in aid of the NSPCC Hear Our Cry appeal.
Dragging their aching limbs across the finish line in Barcelona last night, the runners were drained and exhausted but immensely proud of the achievement and of the £100,000 raised.
Mike Perls, CEO of MC2 and driving force behind the 100k Challenge, commented: “It certainly hasn’t been a stroll in the park. Ash clouds, stomach bugs and uphill runs in Holland were all unexpected obstacles for us and have made the challenge that bit harder. There were times I think we all thought we wouldn’t make it to Barcelona so I am thrilled that we all completed the last 10k and are still here to tell the tale!”
Airport closures caused by the volcanic ash cloud meant the runners’ best laid plans to fly direct to Amsterdam for the second leg of the challenge on Sunday actually resulted in a last minute dash to Dover for a ferry and a midnight run in a rather rainy Ostend.
Despite the set back of the first day, the team soon got back on track running 10k routes in major European cities such as Brussels, Geneva and Monaco before strapping up ankles, hamstrings and toes for the last leg of the challenge in Barcelona yesterday afternoon.
Perls added: “It’s been an absolutely amazing experience for all of us but we’re hugely relieved that it’s complete. Our energy reserves were virtually empty after two runs and the extra travel on the first day so, from then on, it has been a constant challenge to pick ourselves up ready for the next race.
“We have had great support throughout the challenge, in the cities we have visited as well as from family, friends and contacts at home which has really helped keep us going. People have donated generously for the Hear Our Cry appeal and I’m delighted that we have managed to raise such a substantial sum of money for the NSPCC. We’ve still got a little way to go to hit our target of £100,000 though so if you haven’t donated yet please visit www.hearourcry.co.uk.”
Hear Our Cry is a new campaign for the NSPCC in the North West and has been launched to promote awareness of the vital helpline services provided by the charity, including ChildLine, the UK’s free confidential 24-hour helpline for children, and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about a child.
The aim of the campaign is to raise £2.7m by May 2011 to ensure more children and young people across the region have access to the help they need when they need it most.
Angela Capper, NSPCC development manager for the North West said: “Many thanks to Manchester’s entrepreneurs for their commitment and dedication in completing this epic 10k challenge to support the NSPCC. It is a fantastic achievement and our congratulations go to each one of them. Thanks for the businessmen’s time and fundraising efforts, the money raised will help support our vital helpline services to ensure we can answer even more cries for help from children in the UK.”
To find out more about the 100k Challenge or the Hear Our Cry appeal please go to www.hearourcry.co.uk or to donate the Just Giving page is www.justgiving.com/100kchallenge.
New app gets you takeaway in seconds
There’s now a quicker, slicker way to get takeaway to your door, thanks to a new, free iPhone app from Eat It Now, the UK’s fastest growing online takeaway ordering service.
The app offers all the same great features as Eat It Now’s website (www.eatitnow.co.uk), including Meal Deals and loyalty points, but in an easy-to-use format tailor-made for mobile devices. You can also save your details and your favourite meals and restaurants, track your order and pay by cash or credit card.
It lets you choose from a huge range of takeaways in your area, from chippy to Chinese, and from Indian to Italian, simply by putting in your postcode – or you can even let your iPhone find where you are. Once you’ve placed your order, you can track it online or through the app, so you know exactly when to expect your dinner.
Eat It Now is still growing, with more takeaways added every day. If your favourite store is not listed, you can recommend it to Eat It Now through its website.
The free Eat It Now app is available from the iPhone App Store.
Hand hygiene awareness boosts Sani+Hands sales
Antibacterial hand wipes brand, Sani+Hands, has seen sales quadruple in three months on the back of swine flu fears.
The sales uplift in Sani+Hands, which features a unique textured surface for enhanced cleaning, included a 30 per cent rise in the last seven days.
This increase comes following government advice on the importance of keeping hands clean and expert predictions that the virus may affect 30 per cent of the UK population.
Ian Anderson, marketing director at Nice-Pak, said: “The increase in sales of Sani+Hands is a result of the British ‘keep calm and carry on’ attitude. Wipes are a convenient way to keep hands clean on the go, allowing people to go about their daily business without worrying about germs.
“Sani+Hands is the only product on the market with a textured surface and a highly effective antibacterial formula, and customers like the fact that the pack is small enough to fit in their pocket.”
EU patent system stunting growth of UK’s SME technology companies
Despite the UK technology market being one of the country’s most important sectors, it has been suggested that the EU patent system is preventing SMEs from growing as quickly as their American and Asian counterparts, says patent and trade mark firm Mathys and Squire LLP.
The EU does not have a single unified patent, meaning that once a patent is granted, it must generally be validated, translated and annually renewed in all countries where a protection is needed. Consequently, it can cost much more to get protection in the EU than in America or Asia, depending on how many countries are involved.
Recent reduction of validation requirements has reduced ultimate grant costs in the EU, but conversely other recent and proposed fee increases are bringing forward costs at a bad time for technology innovators and the economy.
As well as adding to the cost of innovation among the UK’s technology companies, the system also, in effect, discourages investment into the EU. Some overseas companies are taking the view that the cost of obtaining protection in Europe for a given product is unjustified. Ultimately this could result in an overall cut back in investment in developing the product for Europe.
Ilya Kazi, partner at Mathys and Squire, commented: “Some commentators have recently suggested that instituting a single Community Patent is the solution. It is true that the lack of a unified patent system is a factor why Europe’s technology SMEs fail to grow as quickly as companies elsewhere in the world, particularly the US.”
“SMEs should not wait on the arrival of the Community patent – there are many isssues to consider, and who knows how long it will take to come to pass. Patents are potentially of huge value commercially and should be an important part of a business’ ongoing strategy. With the right advice and a little creativity, companies can obtain practical protection within the confines of the existing legal situation within an appropriate budget and in line with ongoing strategy.”
