DanMartin
18th January 2008, 11:54
Tim Campbell, winner of the first series of the BBC's The Apprentice and founder of The Bright Ideas Trust, is to present the Award for the Best Enterprise Support Professional at the 2008 UK Enterprise Support Awards.
The Awards are hosted by the SFEDI Advisory Board, which sets standards to raise the quality of training and support to prospective and existing small and home business owners. The presentations take place on Thursday 17 April at BAFTA in London. Best selling business author Robert Ashton (www.robertashton.co.uk (http://www.robertashton.co.uk/)) has been announced as the keynote speaker.
The Awards highlight excellence among individuals and organisations providing support to the UK's entrepreneurs and small businesses. The SFEDI Advisory Board brings together all of the UK's major national small business membership and training and support providers, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the FSB, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), IAB, Lloyds TSB, Inbiz, IAB, ACCA, Customer First (UK), Kent Enterprise, GoSkills and Lantra.
Tony Robinson OBE, small business owner and executive director of SFEDI, said: "The Enterprise Support Awards showcase the value provided by the army of valued and trusted supporters of start ups and small business owners across the UK. These include advisers in chambers, enterprise agencies and private sector support organisations, accountants, book keepers, bank advisers, mentors, trainers and many others.
"Behind every successful self employed person and business owner, there are often one or two stars who have provided the know how to help them survive and thrive and we want to recognise their expertise and commitment."
Tim Campbell added: "It's always heartening to see entrepreneurial businesses doing well especially in this difficult economic climate. What most people don't realise is that advisers and background staff make a business stronger and more capable because you trust these people with your deepest secrets and fears. I don't think that this can happen unless you've got a good rapport with the individual. That's why these awards are so important."
"The contribution advisers make to the overall success of UK plc is vital but underrated," comments George Derbyshire, Vice Chairman of the SFEDI Advisory Board and CEO of the NFEA: "Those who accept the challenge of supporting themselves, their families and their communities through the skills of enterprise are heroes. But those who support them are also heroes – but far too often unsung.
"Ensuring that small businesses have access to the most appropriate and effective training and support to give them the very best chance of succeeding in their enterprise is the top priority for all of us involved in this sector."
Categories include awards for professional advisers, such as accountants, through to volunteer business mentors. There is also an award for the business owner or entrepreneur who has done most to support other small and home business owners.
Small and home business owners are encouraged to nominate, for a SFEDI BAFTA, the people that have helped them to succeed through the good times and the not so good times. Nominations can be made online at www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards (http://www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards). The closing date is 30 January 2008.
Notes to Editors:
SFEDI is the UK standards setting body and endorsement body for prospective and existing small and home business owners and all those that support them. More details on SFEDI, its work and endorsement programme and logos can be found on www.sfedi.co.uk (http://www.sfedi.co.uk)
SFEDI is currently seeking sponsors for the individual Enterprise Awards and for tables of ten seats at the Awards Lunch on 17 April 2008. Details are at www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards (http://www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards).
Organisations supporting the National Enterprise Awards so far include:
National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA)
The British Chambers of Commerce
Federation of Small Businesses
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
IAB Qualifications for Business
Inbiz – Microbusiness and SME training specialist
Kent Enterprise (part of Kent University)
Lloyds TSB
GoSkills – the Sector Skills Council for the Passenger Transport Sector
Lantra – the training organisation for the land-based sector
Customer First (UK) – the awarding body for the National Standard for Customer Service
BusinessZone and UK Business Forums are the official media partners of the Awards.
SFEDI media enquiries:
Please contact: Rebecca George - George PR - 01449 737281/07974 161108, email: rebecca@georgepr.com (rebecca@georgepr.com)
The Awards are hosted by the SFEDI Advisory Board, which sets standards to raise the quality of training and support to prospective and existing small and home business owners. The presentations take place on Thursday 17 April at BAFTA in London. Best selling business author Robert Ashton (www.robertashton.co.uk (http://www.robertashton.co.uk/)) has been announced as the keynote speaker.
The Awards highlight excellence among individuals and organisations providing support to the UK's entrepreneurs and small businesses. The SFEDI Advisory Board brings together all of the UK's major national small business membership and training and support providers, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the FSB, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), IAB, Lloyds TSB, Inbiz, IAB, ACCA, Customer First (UK), Kent Enterprise, GoSkills and Lantra.
Tony Robinson OBE, small business owner and executive director of SFEDI, said: "The Enterprise Support Awards showcase the value provided by the army of valued and trusted supporters of start ups and small business owners across the UK. These include advisers in chambers, enterprise agencies and private sector support organisations, accountants, book keepers, bank advisers, mentors, trainers and many others.
"Behind every successful self employed person and business owner, there are often one or two stars who have provided the know how to help them survive and thrive and we want to recognise their expertise and commitment."
Tim Campbell added: "It's always heartening to see entrepreneurial businesses doing well especially in this difficult economic climate. What most people don't realise is that advisers and background staff make a business stronger and more capable because you trust these people with your deepest secrets and fears. I don't think that this can happen unless you've got a good rapport with the individual. That's why these awards are so important."
"The contribution advisers make to the overall success of UK plc is vital but underrated," comments George Derbyshire, Vice Chairman of the SFEDI Advisory Board and CEO of the NFEA: "Those who accept the challenge of supporting themselves, their families and their communities through the skills of enterprise are heroes. But those who support them are also heroes – but far too often unsung.
"Ensuring that small businesses have access to the most appropriate and effective training and support to give them the very best chance of succeeding in their enterprise is the top priority for all of us involved in this sector."
Categories include awards for professional advisers, such as accountants, through to volunteer business mentors. There is also an award for the business owner or entrepreneur who has done most to support other small and home business owners.
Small and home business owners are encouraged to nominate, for a SFEDI BAFTA, the people that have helped them to succeed through the good times and the not so good times. Nominations can be made online at www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards (http://www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards). The closing date is 30 January 2008.
Notes to Editors:
SFEDI is the UK standards setting body and endorsement body for prospective and existing small and home business owners and all those that support them. More details on SFEDI, its work and endorsement programme and logos can be found on www.sfedi.co.uk (http://www.sfedi.co.uk)
SFEDI is currently seeking sponsors for the individual Enterprise Awards and for tables of ten seats at the Awards Lunch on 17 April 2008. Details are at www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards (http://www.sfedi.co.uk/uk-enterprise-awards).
Organisations supporting the National Enterprise Awards so far include:
National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA)
The British Chambers of Commerce
Federation of Small Businesses
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
IAB Qualifications for Business
Inbiz – Microbusiness and SME training specialist
Kent Enterprise (part of Kent University)
Lloyds TSB
GoSkills – the Sector Skills Council for the Passenger Transport Sector
Lantra – the training organisation for the land-based sector
Customer First (UK) – the awarding body for the National Standard for Customer Service
BusinessZone and UK Business Forums are the official media partners of the Awards.
SFEDI media enquiries:
Please contact: Rebecca George - George PR - 01449 737281/07974 161108, email: rebecca@georgepr.com (rebecca@georgepr.com)