Record numbers set for awards ‘Oscars’

POSITIVE results . . . June Smith

ENTRIES for the fourth One Oldham Business Awards closed over the weekend with a record total of nominations for the borough’s business “Oscars”.

The entry level has topped 100 for the first time — more than double the inaugural total in 2009 — and a healthy increase in the numbers entering the Young Entrepreneur and Start-Up categories.

Last year, entries for these categories were so few — at only four each — the Awards Steering Group agonised over options of merging the two or replacing the categories all together.

There was a feeling that maybe, with a little light emerging at the end of the recessionary tunnel, the entrepreneurial spirit of Oldham would return. It has done — with a vengeance.

There are 10 people wanting the Young Entrepreneur title and 15 fledgling companies wanting to be named Start-Up Business of the Year.

“This is a marvellous effort,” said June Smith, Oldham Council’s principal business liaison officer, who has worked on the steering group since day one.

She added: “Here in Oldham in general, and at the council in particular, we are keen to encourage young people and young businesses to grow.

“They are the future of the economy and the health of the borough can be gauged by the number of new starts which can be recorded in a given year. The fact we have the highest entry levels for both of these categories is a healthy sign and though we cannot be complacent, we can be pleased that our support and initiatives are beginning to bring positive results.”

Judging panels, headed by the various sponsors, have been sitting all week sifting through the nominations.

There have been some inspiring stories and the judges, made up of experienced business bankers from title sponsors NatWest, steering-group members, sponsors and members of Oldham Youth Council — integrated into the process as part of their business education — have had the thankless task of reducing the lists to three finalists in each of the 10 categories.

These will be revealed in the Chronicle on Wednesday, February 29, ahead of the sell-out gala presentation dinner on Friday, March 2, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

::All nominees will be featured in a special Chronicle supplement on Wednesday, February 15.