The Great British Entrepreneur Award winners bringing it home to the North East

DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR

Adam Jacobs, Bloom Procurement Services

In 2012, Adam established Bloom Procurement Services. The company was born out of his desire to provide a best-in-class procurement solution which enabled the delivery of outcomes, whilst reducing the time and cost associated with professional services procurement. As a Fellow at The Royal Society for Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, Adam is passionate about social value and innovation and continually seeks to promote and embed outcomes-based thinking that delivers positive change for all.

FAMILY BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Hannah Evans, Cake Stories

Armed with a whisk in one hand, a mixing bowl in the other and the ambition to use cakes for the greater good, Hannah and mum Liz started Cake Stories from the family’s kitchen in 2012.  Since then, together with her parents Liz and Jon and her husband, Ben, she’s led Cake Stories through quite the transformation. So, these days, you’re more likely to find Hannah in Cake Stories’ designated Bakehouse where her brilliant team of bakers whip up around 100 different varieties of cake for either of her two coffee shops, for wholesale in any of the 30 local retailers she supplies, or for postal delivery as part of her impressive online offering.

FOOD & DRINK ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Mark Wong, IMPOSSIBREW®

Mark loves beer He loved it so much that he started studying alcohol professionally the moment he turned 18. His passion for complex flavours led him to become one of the highest scoring French Wine Scholars (FWS). One day, he received worrying news about his health and was advised to stop drinking. He missed the experience and none of the alcohol alternatives did it for him. Mark began searching for a healthy, relaxing alternative to booze that’s more than just ‘alcohol-free’. So he set up a team and started brewing in his kitchen.

SERVICE INDUSTRIES ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Silvia Anghel (right), Vision Accountants

Founder and Qualified Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Silvia worked for ten years in large corporations such as Sage and Procter & Gamble where she gained significant tax knowledge. Mid pandemic, she decided to start Vision Accountants, so she can apply the knowledge she gained to small entrepreneurs..

She learned that the time spent with her family is more important than anything else and also no other job would give her the flexibility to do that. Silvia’s Vision is to  spend more time with her family and  help others to achieve their perfect work-life balance.

Vision Accountants are chartered cloud accountants simplifying compliance and tax advice for ambitious service-led businesses, ensuring peace of mind and freeing up valuable time to reach and exceed their goals. They specialise in  proactive, tailored and human-centred support to meet the challenges of running and growing a business and work with a range of different businesses from start-ups to well-established companies across the UK including Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds and London.

Their perfect fit is helping service businesses such as digital, tech and creative agencies, offering all aspects of accountancy support such as Company set up and accounts, tax planning and advice, R&D tax credits, payroll and bookkeeping.

START-UP ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Laura Hepburn, Greenology (Teesside) Limited

Greenology is comprised of a group of experts who focus on creative solutions for complex waste plastic projects. They’ve brought together leading people from the country to help bring energy to our local futures – through sustainable means. Their aim is to create jobs, energy and world class solutions to help look after our planet.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Jack Deverson, Evidence Based Education

Evidence Based Education combines years of experience in teaching and school leadership, in conducting research into educational leadership and evaluation, and in policy advice to the UK Government’s Department for Education.

This combination allows them to take an objective view on effective uses of evidence in education, while also developing pragmatic, thought-provoking training and tools, designed for the complex professional lives of teachers and school leaders.