Up-and-coming entrepreneurs urged to seek Royal recognition

The chair of Derbyshire’s King’s Award for Enterprise panel has welcomed a new category recognising up-and-coming entrepreneurs – and has urged the region’s young talent to step forward and apply.

Marvin Cooke OBE, who is also professor of enterprise at the University of Derby, said the newly launched King’s Award for Enterprise’s Young Founder award promised to inject fresh energy into the awards scheme, which is marking its 60th anniversary this year.

His comments came following another successful round of King’s Awards for Derbyshire, which saw four firms announced as winners.

Applications for next year’s awards are now open, and Derbyshire’s King’s Award panel, which provides the county’s businesses with the information and support they need to enter, is inviting firms to a fact-finding event due to be held on 2 June at the university’s Cavendish Building.

Marvin said: “We’re so proud that Derbyshire has once again put itself firmly on the map with four fantastic award wins, underlining the excellent work that goes on in this part of the world, but which often goes unnoticed on a national level.

“The competition is now open again for next year and I’m really happy that there is now a fifth category aimed specifically at recognising the younger talent that is coming through.

“The award is open to successful founders who are aged between 18 and 30 and it represents a really exciting opportunity for youth to showcase how they are making waves in business alongside more established firms.”

Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, said: “Undoubtedly my favourite engagements during the year involve presenting local companies with their King’s Awards, so I’m already looking forward to visiting this year’s winners.

“Will there be some young faces among the winners in the future? I’d like to think so.

“We know that there are plenty of rising stars within our business community and it would be lovely for them to get some recognition with a King’s Award for Young Founder.

“Winning a King’s Award is not only a huge honour, but also an accolade which carries huge weight in business, especially for companies who are operating overseas, and I would encourage all companies to look into applying this year.”

For more information about the fact-finding event and to book places click here.