top of page

East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards finalists announced

Writer's picture: Emily MillerEmily Miller

Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Lincoln business have been recognised.


Samantha Deakin of University of Derby collecting the Entrepreneurial Educator 2024 award on stage with compere Jo Hayward
Samantha Deakin of University of Derby collecting the Entrepreneurial Educator 2024 award

The finalists of the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards have been selected by judges and announced in the run up to the ceremony on Thursday, April 10, 2025.


Headline sponsored The Zinthiya Trust, this exciting event marks the fourth occasion of its kind and promises to showcase the incredible entrepreneurial talent emerging from the region.


With 27 finalists chosen across nine categories, the anticipation is building for an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship in the East Midlands.


The ceremony will feature the much-anticipated Pitching Platform, sponsored by Nelsons, which has become a highlight of the awards. This Dragon's Den-style format allows the audience to actively participate by voting for the winner of a coveted business board, along with £10,000 worth of marketing and legal support.


Finalists will benefit from tailored interview timings with independent judges specific to their category, alongside guidance from Cross Productions. This support aims to help the finalists maximise their opportunities and navigate the next steps in their entrepreneurial ventures. The resources provided seek to empower these innovators with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in a competitive landscape.


People seated at round tables in a bright atrium, attending an event. The "Employability Hub" sign is visible above. Mood is lively.
Guests at the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2024

The East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Club has a notable track record of success stories, with past finalists making significant strides in their respective fields. For instance, Katie Michaels, the founder of Moti Me, was celebrated as the 2024 Pitching Platform winner, receiving invaluable support that has catalysed the development of her product aimed at motivating children with disabilities to engage in physiotherapy exercises.


Pitching Platform winner Katie Michaels said: "The Pitching Platform was the biggest pitch I'd ever done. To have the majority of people voting for Moti Me was was a big surprise and confidence boost for me. If you'd have gone back 10 years and told younger Katie that she was going to pitch in front of more than 200 people, I probably would have run away!


"Having that many people choosing me as the as the Pitching Platform winner was really special to me. And I felt proud of that. It was probably one of the biggest days of running Moti Me because it was a big personal achievement."


Four people on stage at an award ceremony. A woman holds a plaque, a large screen displays "Winner," creating a celebratory mood.
Pitching Platform 2024 winner Katie Michaels of Moti Me

The East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Club aims to encourage and support entrepreneurship within the region, fostering innovation and collaboration among local businesses.


People can still apply for the Pitching Platform. Applications close on January 31.

Anyone can attend the ceremony on Thursday April 10, 2025. Buy tickets to the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards.

 

Finalists of the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2025:

Entrepreneur For Good

Tania Gerard - Tania Gerard Digital

Learie Gonsalves - One Building Solution Ltd

Simon Sansome/Clive Cooper - Snowball


The Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur - Sponsored by AGR Law

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan - Zinthiya Trust/She Inspires

Nick Megson - Abacus Flooring Solutions Limited

Elaine Penhaul - Lemon and Lime Interiors


Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by End2End

James Bowers - Enicor

Sam Cooper - The TSD Group

Thomas Cropper - Tuk In Foods


Entrepreneurial Collaborator

Inzar Haq - Insight Consultancy and Landmark Property Solutions

Jane Hearst - The National Centre for Creative Health

Claire Zwozny-Bestwick - CRZyBest


International Entrepreneur of the Year

Mark Copley - Copley Scientific

Jonathan Jones - SDE Group

Karen Mosley - Kran Lee Logistics


Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Reason8

Rebecca Holders - Holders Estate Agents

Asit Jansari - AJ Legal Consultancy Limited

Sallyanne Kirk - Leicester Fashion District CIC


Innovation in Entrepreneurship

Mathew Halford - Kaoba

Nisha Ravat - Green Tomato (Midlands) Ltd

Rahul Sabbarwal - The Luxe 360 Booths


Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Anuj Ashar - Launchpad AI

Henry Brogan - BidScript

Rhys Everquill - The Leicester Gazette


Entrepreneurial Educator

Tania Gerard - Tania Gerard Digital

Anam Hassan - Handprints Day Nursery & Preschool

Amanda Riddle - Outlook Partnerships

bottom of page