The One —

continuing our round up of the first Chronicle Business Awards entries


Businessman of the Year

— sponsored by

Asian Business Association

Criteria

An individual award for Business Man of the Year. The winner will be an Oldham-based individual who has made a significant business contribution in the past year.

The award is aimed at individuals at all levels, from chair of a large entity to sole trader. The contribution could be by way of improving financial performance, developing new products, developing people or it could just be something special he has brought to business life of Oldham. It could be someone who has fired the imagination by an innovative approach.




Entries



Gary Cheetham, Carbay Ltd., 100 Broadway, Chadderton — a business which in 25 years evolved from a group of car enthusiasts into a successful, local and online used car dealership.

Paul Cumiskey, The Pavilion Cafe, Chadderton Hall Park, Chadderton — (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year).

Michael Edwards, proprietor of Pelican Public Relations, 1 Holly House, Mill Street, Uppermill — a specialist consultancy dedicated to specific markets. A former newspaper editor Michael established Pelican in 1998.

Attiq Hussain, Shalimar Hairdressers, 140 Copster Hill Road, Oldham — founder of traditional gents’ hairdressing with pool and snooker tables.

Martin Kay, DTEC., Unit 2, Whitegate Business Centre, Jardine Street, Chadderton - managing director (multi-category entry — see Business of the Year).

Martin Littler, Inclusive Technology Ltd., Riverside Court, Delph — founder of a business providing special educational needs software, switches and computer access devices, simple communication aids and assistive technology.

Paul Milner, Positive IT Solutions, The Malvern Suite, Borough Mill, Nield Street, Hathershaw —founder of company offering a total approach to IT solutions, with three discreet divisions, hardware engineering; networking consultancy engineering; bespoke software application engineering.




Start-up Business of the Year

— sponsored by Innovative Technology Ltd



Criteria



Launching a business requires a wide range of skills and qualities - and a fair degree of courage.



The winner will demonstrate that from the initial seed of an idea they identified an opportunity in the marketplace, developed, manufactured or sourced a product. took this to customers and successfully made sales. The judges will take into consideration sales growth, profit achievement, number of people employed, evidence of a satisfied customer base. To qualify, a business must not have been operating as a trading entity before January, 2008.




Entries



Designer Travel, Watersedge, 1 High Grove Road, Grasscroft — new-to-Oldham travel consultancy aiming to offer a total concept in service offering.

Mandy’s, Unit 4, The Green, Fitton Hill — formerly a sandwich shop, transformed into a food outlet of the highest quality.

Mirzali Architecture LLP, First Floor, 128 Middleton Road, Oldham — a practice focused on the delivery of design excellence in architecture, urbanism and interiors, covering architectural design, planning consultancy, building control and landscape design.

Mortgage Quest, Union Street, Oldham — specialists in the provision of Halal and Islamic mortgages, home insurance, constant cover, injury, life and all types of general insurance.




Innovation and Design

— sponsored by BAE Systems



Criteria



This award aims to encourage and recognise innovative ideas and people and their competitive advantages and is intended to promote the standing of a business in the community and respective industry.



The winner will have innovated new products and services, in relation to the needs of the business, creating innovative solutions which can reflect your capability to others.

This award will acknowledge individual effort and achievement, recognise and promote achievements and success through innovation and recognise improved business performance through the design and application of a new business or technological solution.




Entries



Another Level Car Parks, Tweedale Way, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Business of the Year).

First Manchester, Wallshaw Street, Oldham — introduction of eco-friendly buses complying to the highest European standards of exhaust emissions on two routes within Oldham.

Marshall Pumps Systems Ltd., Rhodes Bank, Oldham — lifetime pump specialists and a leading pump distributor for pumps, pumping systems, spares, repairs, service, Installation and water treatment.

Mirzali Architecture LLP., First Floor, 128 Middleton Road, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Start-Up Business of the Year).

NEuW Ltd., 1 Church Meadow, Greenfield — established in 1983, this consultancy works with clients to secure delivery in the Asia-Pacific and Japan markets.

Prithiraj Restaurant Ltd., Unit 4, Windsor Works Oldham — ((multi-category entry, see Business of the Year).

Synergy Building Services Ltd., The Rose and Crown Business Centre, Oldham — design, installation and maintenance of air conditioning and electrical systems to a wide range of commercial and industrial clients in the private and public sectors.

The Pavilion Café., Chadderton Hall Park, Chadderton — (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year).




Young Entrepreneur

— sponsored by Oldham Sixth Form College



Criteria



This award will recognise an individual who has shown the desire to succeed and who has the flair, the drive and the ambition to make it happen.



Open to those aged 30 and under on June 1, 2008, this category seeks out the best young entrepreneur in Oldham.

The winner will demonstrate to the judges a high degree of entrepreneurship, great potential to succeed and a well defined vision.




Entries



Anjub Ali, Mirzali Architecture LLP, First Floor, 128 Middleton Road, Oldham - founder (multi-category entry, see Start-up Business of the Year).

Wasim Aslam, Café Lahore Ltd., 145 Union Street, Oldham - founder (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year).

David Beherall, Candid Sky, 13 Cobden Street, Chadderton — digital marketing solutions to help companies reach the widest possible audience in the most effective ways, building and enhancing marketing strategies.

Roman Choudhury, Stella Services, Earl Mill Business Centre, Oldham — founder of business dealing with accident claims, providing a replacement car and helping with claims for injury for drivers and/or passengers.

Attiq Hussain, Shalimar Hairdressers, 140 Copster Hill Road, Oldham - (multi-category entry, see Businessman of the Year).

Oliver Mellin, The Launch Pad, The Stables, Dobcross —developing ongoing projects, one of several, in his final year of his degree course at university.




Businesswoman of the Year

— sponsored by

Web applications



Criteria



An individual award for Businesswoman of the Year. The winner will be an Oldham-based individual who has made a significant business contribution in the past year.



The award is aimed at individuals at all levels, from chair of a large entity to sole trader. The contribution could be by way of improving financial performance, developing new products, developing people or it could just be something special she has brought to the business life of Oldham.

It could be someone who has fired the imagination by an innovative approach.




Entries



Barbara Jackson, Millers Florist, 102A Huddersfield Road, Oldham - founder (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year).

Sue Fink, The Academy, 330 Ashton Road, Hathershaw —founder founder of traditional business, transforming derelict premises and offering, in addition to a range of services in a modern salon, specialist training for other hairdressers in Oldham.

Michelle Greenwood, W and D Greenwood and Sons Ltd., 103 Vulcan Street, Oldham - sales director (multi-category entry, see Business of the Year).

Amanda Matthews, Designer Travel, Watersedge, 1 High Grove Road, Oldham - founder (multi-category entry, see Start-up Business of the Year).

Michelle Walker, from Shaw, managing director of Commercial Contract Engineers Ltd., Eagle Technology Park, Rochdale — car and commercial vehicle repairs for almost 25 years, a provider of commercial accident and HGV body repair.




Small Business of the Year

— sponsored by RBS Retail


Criteria




The winner in this category will be a business whose turnover was less than £1 million in its 2008 year-end accounts.



The judges will be looking for evidence of improvement or excellence in similar areas to those set out for the main category of Business of the Year.




Entries



Bluebird Bus Company, Alexander House, Middleton — fourth largest provider of bus service in the Manchester area.

Dawnvale Café Components, Units One and Two, Albert Street, Hollinwood — design, manufacture and installation of commercial bars and kitchens.

Frillys, 8 Lord Street, Oldham —trading for more than 20 years, this business has earned the respect and trust of clients from across the country who visit for their lingerie needs.

Landmark Financial Services, Sam Road, Diggle — independent financial services offering corporate pension planning and investments advice.

Manns Wharf, 6 The Manns, Greenfield — family business now in its 10th year, a professional caterer offering a tailored service.

Millers Florist, 102A Huddersfield Road, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year).

Pelican Public Relations, 1 Holly House, Mill Street, Uppermill (multi-category entry, see Businessman of the Year)

Positive IT Solutions, The Malvern Suite, Nield Street, Hathershaw — (multi-category entry, see Businessman of the Year)

Prithiraj Restaurant Ltd., Unit 4, Windsor Works, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Business of the Year).

Shalimar Hairdressers, 140 Copster Hill Road, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Businessman of the Year)

Stella Services, Earl Mill Business Centre, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Young Entrepreneur of the Year)

Skidmore Cycles, 35 -37 Union Street, Oldham — (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year)

Target Fire Protection, Unit 38, Buckley Road Industrial Estate, Rochdale — established in 1998 when director David Harris accepted redundancy from a large extinguisher company ‘go it alone’.

The Academy, 330 Ashton Road, Hathershaw — (multi-category entry, see Businesswoman of the Year)

The Pavilion Café, Chadderton Hall Park Chadderton — (multi-category entry, see Retailer of the Year)

UK Immigration and Visa Services Ltd., 94A Featherstall Road North, Westwood — established in 2004 to help young people access training for careers in immigration law practice.

W and D Greenwood and Sons Ltd., 103 Vulcan Street, Derker — (multi-category entry, see Business of the Year)




FINALISTS WILL BE REVEALED IN A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1