Previous Winners
Entries to the Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2012 raised the bar yet again, with some of our best and most diverse companies we've seen to date. Here's an overview of our winners from 2012...
Small Business of the Year and Achiever of the Year
Luxury For Less Ltd
Managing Director, Chris Li, Coventry
Luxury For Less Ltd started as an eBay company in 2006 when serial entrepreneur and founder, Chris Li and his partner Vicky Wang sourced taps for a development project. One year and £1million of turnover later, Chris and Vicky decided to take the plunge by sourcing and manufacturing their own products to sell to plumbers and bathroom retailers. The company has since launched a consumer arm and its own brand for the plumbing trade.
Good investments in order to grow their business. Typical of small acorns growing into big trees. They started on eBay and got smart and grew their business to achieve the success of a multi channel retailer in a very difficult market.”
Karren Brady, Leading UK businesswoman
Contribution to the Community
ShredBank - Co-founder, Philip Bain, Belfast
ShredBank destroys confidential information on the clients' premises using mobile shredding trucks, helping to reduce security leaks. The company, also works closely with the local community to promote the environment, the benefits of secure waste reduction and disposal through free shredding events called 'shredathons' that help combat ID Fraud. They recently raised over £20,000 for the Prince's Trust by delivering business growth seminars.
Innovation of the Year
Lick Me I'm Delicious - Founder, Charlie Harry Francis, Bristol
Lick Me I'm Delicious produces liquid nitrogen ice cream creations at events, using a portable nitro ice cream machine which resembles a steam powered Victorian contraption, designed by founder Charlie himself. The company operates within the events industry, for clients including Google and Sony. Charlie is working on a number of exciting projects such as glow in the dark ice cream and ice cream pottery as well as creating the world's first nitro ice cream buggy.
James Frost, Nectar Marketing Director
A highly innovative idea from a small entrepreneur that really deserves, and would benefit from, the help that winning a Nectar Business Award would bring.”
Best Use of Technology
Viezu Technologies - Co-founder, Alasdair Maclachlan, Bromsgrove
Viezu is the world leader in vehicle tuning solutions. Traditionally used to make Formula 1 cars go faster, Viezu has taken the technology and sold under the BlueOptimize™ brand name. The technology optimises the efficiency of the vehicle, improving fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions without compromising driveability and has been installed in over 42,000 vehicles from passenger cars and motorbikes to lorries.
James Frost, Nectar Marketing Director
Very interesting model for how to export a unique capability via dealership partnerships, avoiding having to set up direct sales operations themselves.”
International Trader of the Year
Grace Cole - Co-founder, Tracy Mort, Cheshire
Tracy Mort, founded Grace Cole with a business partner who later pulled out of the company two weeks before launch, due to severe illness. This had closely followed the untimely death of Tracy's brother. Showing grit and determination Tracy took on full responsibility of the company and grew it into an international brand, supplying products to 60 countries. Stockists include Selfridges and House of Fraser.
Karren Brady, Leading UK businesswoman
Success story out of adversity with a clear idea of what they want to do.”
Who should win the Contribution to the Community award?
Voting opens 24 June 2013 via our Facebook page | Terms & Conditions
Nectar Business nectar-business.com
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