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One to Watch recognises an entrepreneur who is building a new business with the potential to positively impact our region.
• Must have a significant personal financial stake in a business which has its registered office in the North East
• Does not need to be an Entrepreneurs' Forum member
• Your main business must have been incorporated for a minimum of 2 years as of 1st January 2024
• Must be available for judging panel which is provisionally set for w/c 15th July 2024 and to attend awards on Friday 27th September 2024 at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
• Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24th May 2024
• Written applications should be submitted via our Google Form. If you would like to submit your application in any other form (ie video) please submit your application by using a file transfer service such as WeTransfer and send your files to info@entrepreneursforum.net
• If you are not using our Google Form for your application, please ensure your application includes contact details – name of entrepreneur, name of business, email and phone numbers and that your application answers the following three questions:
1. What inspired you to start your business
2. Tell us what makes your business unique
3. Tell us about ambitions for the future of your business
• You must also submit turnover, operating profit and headcount figures for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (forecast)
• Potential for your business to positively impact our region
• Your own level of commitment to your organisation, purpose and vision
• Whether your business has identified novel concepts that challenge the status quo and introduce new ideas, new technologies or processes
• Evidence of how you demonstrate courage, perseverance and resilience to overcome obstacles
• Financial resilience (please note that shortlisted finalists will be asked to provide further evidence of financial performance)
Impact recognises an entrepreneur behind a resilient and inclusive business which is making a sustained contribution to making the North East a better place.
• Must have a significant personal financial stake in a business which has its registered office in the North East
• Does not need to be an Entrepreneurs' Forum member
• Your main business must have been incorporated for a minimum of 5 years as of 1st January 2024
• Must be available for judging panel which is provisionally set for w/c 15th July 2024 and to attend awards on Friday 27th September 2024 at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
• Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24th May 2024
• Written applications should be submitted via our Google Form. If you would like to submit your application in any other form (ie video) please submit your application by using a file transfer service such as WeTransfer and send your files to info@entrepreneursforum.net
• If you are not using our Google Form for your application, please ensure your application includes contact details – name of entrepreneur, name of business, email and phone numbers and that your application answers the following three questions:
1. What inspired you to start your business
2. Tell us what makes your business unique
3. Tell us about ambitions for the future of your business
• You must also submit turnover, operating profit and headcount figures for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (forecast)
• Has created a resilient business
• Evidence of continued re-investment in their business over time
• The impact the entrepreneur is making in one of more of the following areas (as defined by the UN sustainability goals):
a. Providing an exceptional place to work
b. Fostering innovation in ways that improves their community
c. Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns
d. Ensuring healthy lives and proving well being for all
e. Putting measures in place to reduce the impact of climate change
• Financial resilience (please note that shortlisted finalists will be asked to provide further evidence of financial performance)
Scale-up recognises an entrepreneur behind a high growth business which is having a positive economic impact on our region, and has the potential to continue to benefit the North East.
• Must have a significant personal financial stake in a business which has it’s registered office in the North East
• Does not need to be an Entrepreneurs' Forum member
• Main business must have been incorporated for a minimum of 5 years as of 1st January 2024
• Must be showing high growth over the period from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2023 with further growth potential (growth can be evidenced by growth in turnover, growth in employee numbers, investment in asset base and/or growth in profitability)
• Must be available for judging panel which is provisionally set for w/c 15th July 2024 and to attend awards on Friday 27th September 2024 at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
• Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24th May 2024
• Written applications should be submitted via our Google Form. If you would like to submit your application in any other form (ie video) please submit your application by using a file transfer service such as WeTransfer and send your files to info@entrepreneursforum.net
• If you are not using our Google Form for your application, please ensure your application includes contact details – name of entrepreneur, name of business, email and phone numbers and that your application answers the following three questions:
1. What inspired you to start your business
2. Tell us what makes your business unique
3. Tell us about ambitions for the future of your business
• You must also submit turnover, operating profit and headcount figures for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (forecast)
• Level of disruption within their own market/industry. We are looking for pioneers of new technologies or new approaches which have created new markets or allowed for gains in market share
• Evidence of scale up and future growth potential through, for example:
a. Increase in market share/expansion to new markets
b. Positive financial performance
c. Investment in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse mix of talent
d. A culture of innovation within the organisation
e. Positive impact on the customers they serve
f. Sustainable growth
Champion recognises an entrepreneur who is a role model and inspiring other entrepreneurs.
• Must have (or have had) a significant personal financial stake in a business which has its registered office in the North East
• Does not need to be an Entrepreneurs' Forum member
• Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24th May 2024
• Written applications should be submitted via our Google Form. If you would like to submit your application in any other form (ie video) please submit your application by using a file transfer service such as WeTransfer and send your files to info@entrepreneursforum.net
• If you are not using our Google Form for your application, please ensure your application includes contact details – name of entrepreneur, name of business, email and phone numbers and that your application answers the following two questions:
1. What inspires you to inspire and champion entrepreneurship across our region (and if relevant, beyond)?
2. How has your own entrepreneurial experience shaped how you champion others?
• Is a role model making a conscious effort to inspire and champion entrepreneurship across our region (and beyond) which could include being an influencer, speaking out for minority groups, inspiring young people or similar activities
• Positively impacts other entrepreneurs in our region
• Mentors others altruistically and is sought out to be a mentor for others
Our judges will select one of the above four winners to win the overall title of 'Entrepreneur of the Year'. This will focus on performance in the past 12 months alone.
Chosen by the Entrepreneurs' Forum board, and kept a closely guarded secret until it is announced at the 2024 Entrepreneurial Awards dinner, our Lifetime Achievement award is presented to a business leader who has shown huge commitment over a significant period of time and made a major impact to the regional economy.
