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Outstanding businesses recognised in the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2023

The ceremony will take place at Nottingham Trent University Business School.

Real Entrepreneurs 2022 Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur winner Saleem Arif
Previous Real Entrepreneurs' Award winner Saleem Arif

A range of businesses have been recognised in the Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2023 shortlist this week.


The Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards celebrate those who have started their own businesses, invented a new product, successfully collaborated with others, or grown their business significantly.


The panel of judges is made up of highly successful Midlands-based entrepreneurs: Glynis Wright MBE; Patterson Commercial Law Managing Director Rik Pancholi; Premier Logistics Client Relationship Manager Macauley Christopher; University of Derby Enterprise Development Manager Angela Tooley; and Lewis Stringer Senior Manager at UK Network - East and South-East Midlands.

Guests arriving at the Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2022 at Radisson Blu East Midlands Hotel
Guests arriving at the Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2022

This year’s headline sponsor Fraser Stretton Property Group is a Leicestershire-based company. Its founders Narinder Nijjar and Jaz Kaur have been promoting the awards across the Midlands, which has bolstered nominations coming in from new sectors and industries.


Narinder and Jaz are allies to fellow entrepreneurs, offering their support to others in business. On the night of the ceremony, they’ll make a speech that encourages entrepreneurship and present the idea of kinship between fellow business owners and being an ally to others.


Ceremony guests will also see a selection of up-and-coming entrepreneurs take the stage to participate in a ‘Pitching Platform’ sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law where one lucky pitcher will receive a non-executive board of directors for the year amongst many more benefits.

Guests take a selfie at a dinner table at the Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2022
Guests at the Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2022

Tickets are £90 or £850 for a table of ten and can be secured by emailing awards@realentrepreneurs.co.uk or filling in an online form.


The Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards takes place on May 4, 2023 at Nottingham Trent University Business School: 50 Shakespeare St, Nottingham NG1 4FQ.


Five shortlisted candidates have been selected in each of the 10 categories ahead of the awards ceremony to be held on May 4, 2023 at Nottingham Trent University Business School.


The shortlist:

Entrepreneur for Good

sponsored by TML Solicitors

Chris Cain, Kazzoo IT

Sarah Lockwood-Lee, Lee Paxman-Clarke & Dr James Greening, HEAL.med CIC

Stacey Wragg, Embark CSR

Kate Walker, ExpHand Prosthetics

Joe Miller, Enable Services


Entrepreneurial Collaborator

sponsored by Breeze Corporate Finance Ltd

Amanda Daly, The Insight Centre

Elosie Idoine, Rialto Training

Stephen Jackson, Nottingham BID

Scarlett Tinsley, BrightER Futures

Alex Slack, The Circle Club


Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year

sponsored by University of Leicester School of Business

Anuj Ashar, Beta Booster

Natalie Bamford, Colleague Box

Joe Miller, Enable Services

Katie Lavis, Little Starts Gift Cards

Michelle Williams, Meesh Consulting


Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year

sponsored by BTT

Greta McDonald, Sweet Lounge

Jaimon Thomas, Kayal

Lesley So, So Good Kombucha

Olivia Pritchard, Bustler Market

Danny and Sandra Jimminson, Hammer and Pincers


Entrepreneurial Educator

sponsored by Premier Logistics

Nav Ahmed, University of Birmingham

Chandila Fernando, The Investment Committee

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, Bear Earth CIC

Mital Thanki, Spark Academy

Tracey Mosley, EMA Training


International Entrepreneur of the Year

sponsored by Utilities Made Simple

Luke Tobin, Digital Ethos

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Morningside Pharmaceuticals

Gurdev Mattu, Fashion UK

Mark Lord, Aztec Oils

Shafique Hussien, Elite Labels


Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year

sponsored by Brewin Dolphin

Sophie Redman, Linford Grey Associates

Beverley Wakefield, Vibrant Accountancy

Shailendra Singh, Cellomatics Biosciences Limited

Liam Hobbs, More Than Loft Ladders

Leanne Bonner-Cooke, e-Bate


Innovation in Entrepreneurship

sponsored by Midlands Investment Engine

Kit Lacey, E Dub Services Ltd

José Luis Moltó Marín, Activatec

Dean Jackson, HUUB

Lee Paxman-Clarke, HEAL.med CIC

Shailendra Singh, Cellomatics Biosciences Limited


Entrepreneurial Spirit

sponsored by Take Me

Zoe Darkins, Inside-Out Laser Clinics

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, Bear Earth CIC

Jo Bonser, Mealtime

Kate Walker, ExpHand Prosthetics

Miles Waghorn, TechSilver


The Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur

sponsored by Headline Sponsor Fraser Stretton Property Group

David Hunter, Take Me

Alex Goldsmith, Medigold Health Consultancy Ltd

Kate Walker, ExpHand Prosthetics

Callum McKeefery, Reviews.io

Vicky Critchley, Bam Boom Cloud

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