GRIFFITHS CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT PHOENIX FUND AWARDS
(7 May 2004)

Some of Britain's best projects to encourage enterprise in disadvantaged areas were honoured last night by Small Business Minister, Nigel Griffiths. Eight projects from the Phoenix Development Fund won awards at a ceremony in the City of London, including Kiran Mehnaz of Rivaaz Collections, Burnley and the Ethnic Minority Enterprise Sew-East project that works with businesses in the clothing industry of the East End of London.

The winners, part of a total of 96 projects designed to boost entrepreneurship amongst under-represented communities and disadvantaged areas, included both businesses and the organisations that support them. Also among this year's winners are a 17 year-old Londoner who has set up and developed his own music business as well as a Yorkshire-based scheme that delivers improved business support and training for black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event Mr Griffiths said: "Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in rebuilding Britain's disadvantaged communities. The Phoenix Development Fund has gone a long way to develop the self-confidence and determination in local people and communities which helps drive regeneration and make a real difference."

Mr Griffiths also launched the publication of, 'Leading Lights - Experiences from the Phoenix Development Fund'. The document highlights the achievement of the 96 innovative projects supported by the Phoenix Development Fund between 2001 and 2004. Leading Lights presents a profile of all the projects and their experiences, many in the words of the users themselves.

THE WINNERS

There were a total of eight prizes.

Client AWARD Winners

Prize Category: Young Entrepreneur
For most successful business being run by client under 25.

Winner - Michael Lowe - Domain Music Ltd
Michael Lowe, a 17 year old client of Tottenham Green Enterprise Centre, has also won the Daily Telegraph - National Business Awards (young entrepreneurs category).

In developing his business, Michael researched successful music managers in detail, looking at their weaknesses as well as their strengths. He has built his own extensive network of media contacts all over London. "I did a lot of research, looked at websites, then sent out press releases, got the artists into magazines and got photo shoots. Everything hinges on the record deal: the publishing deal, airplay, the video - and you need media coverage to get there." Michael is now in discussion with record companies in order to secure a deal for his emerging stars: R&B singer, Simone Dow and Nutty P, whom Michael describes as an eccentric rapper-producer.

Prize Category: Young At Heart
For most successful business being run by client aged over 50.

Winner - Jane Taylor - Alewife Brewery - Norfolk
The only female brewer in Norfolk, Jane started brewing in a small shed in her garden, initially making for friends and family. When she went to WEETU she hoped to increase her production to 300 bottles per month. 4 years on she is producing nearly 2000 bottles per month. In addition to this she supplies specialist beer shops and off licences. Her beers are traditionally brewed, mostly organic and bottle conditioned. Recently she was head hunted by East Anglian brewers, a co-operative of traditional brewers. She is now their chair person and head of the marketing operation. Jane has diversified into recipes, aprons and t-shirts and opens her brewery to visitors on a regular basis. There has also been some interest from a Paris restaurateur.

Prize Category: Blue Sky
This award is to recognise the most imaginative, sustainable business idea-in any sector.

Winner - Marion Mainstone - The Folding Company Ltd
Marion Mainstone, with no engineering training, but with an MA in Furniture Design invented the only folding chair in the world to open and close instantly with one hand, closing to half the size of other chairs. The mechanism now has three full patents and patents pending in Europe, USA, Japan and China,won the UK furniture industry's FIRA Innovation Award 2003 (the interview panel gave her a standing ovation when they first saw it) She launched the flipit(tm), the first product to use her mechanism, at the Milan International Furniture Fair in April 2004 as part of the Mazorca Projects/Hidden Arts' London Design.

Marion's mechanism will not only transform the design of folding chairs. It works for chairs, tables, children's pushchairs, portable workbenches and platforms for the construction industry making them all completely secure while opening and closing very quickly and easily to a much more compact size.

Prize Category: Beating the Odds
For the person who has demonstrated greatest energy and commitment in overcoming barriers and difficulties to bring their business idea to fruition.

Winner - Kiran Mehnaz - Rivaaz Collections, Burnley
Kiran is a 19 year old who has had to overcome many barriers including health problems and cultural barriers. At school Kiran was shy, quiet and lacking in self-confidence. She went on to study childcare at Burnley College but suffered from intense migraines leaving her feeling faint and dizzy. Hospital tests showed that Kiran was suffering from panic attacks brought on by severe migraines.

In June 2003 Kiran set up a fashionable clothes shop, Rivaaz Collections and she also became a member of Burnley Women Into Business Network. Kiran is now refurbishing the shop next door and diversifying into the wedding market.

Winner of the Artemis Category for the Natwest Everywoman Awards has helped Kiran to gain in self-confidence and in February 2004 she was a speaker at Burnley Enterprise Women Into Business Conference, a huge achievement for someone so lacking in self-confidence only 12 months ago!

Prize Category: Community Links
For the client whose business has been of particular benefit to their local community.

Winner - Mr A R Baseer - Birchfield Traders Association
Birchfield Road is a main street in the Aston area of Birmingham. It has a shopping parade, which both competes with and complements a large indoor shopping mall with a supermarket. The traders were facing many tough issues not least an increase in violent crime associated with gang and gun culture. The Birchfield Traders Association (BTA) was able to make alliances and give a voice to their problems. They enlisted the support of the Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police, Religious and community organisations. They have organised events promoting Employment and youth enterprise.

BTA has been instrumental in bringing about a major regeneration programme of North West Birmingham worth 13M over 5 years and have further plans to develop the amenities and security of their shopping area.

Project Winners

Prize Category: Developing Staff
Gives recognition to the project following policies to promote effective staff development.

Winner - West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency
After losing an Urdu and Punjabi speaking business advisor and discovering that there were very few around, Halifax Opportunities Trust, part of West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency, decided to put together the first Positive Action Training Programme for BME Business Advisors in the country. This would also be SFEDI accredited. Together with SFEDI, and also part funded by Yorkshire Forward and the local Urban 2 Programme they worked up an 18 month programme.

They now have 6 young people on a unique project. After rigorous selection and an intensive 2 weeks SFEDI training programme they are in placements as diverse as Age Concern and a local accountants, learning first hand about business and social enterprise. All 6 are working towards their SFEDI accreditation as Business Advisors.

Prize Category: Best Seller
This Award goes to the project that has 'sold' (whether for financial gain or not!) its ideas and approaches to other business support organisations.

Winner - PROWESS
Prowess, the national representative organisation for women's enterprise, have built up a membership base of 136 organisations and individuals all committed to working towards equal numbers of women and men starting in business and promoting and supporting targeted mainstream initiatives to develop quality methods to assist women to realise their potential through starting up and developing businesses.

80 members have taken part in comprehensive service delivery assessment interviews to assess them against the Prowess best practice quality standards criteria with 6 business support organisations and 2 networks meeting all of the quality standards criteria, resulting in them being awarded 'Flagship' status.

Winner - Ethnic Minority Enterprise Project
EMEP's Sew-East project works with businesses in the clothing industry of the East End of London. It has been collecting images of the work they have carried out over the past 18months of the project. The images are then shared with the Sew-East clients via the Designer Forums that are held on a bi monthly basis. Images from past fashion shows, showcases, festivals and conferences that Sew-East Clients have participated in are also included. They have also included some of the brochures and marketing materials that have been produced.