The IAB have announced the Winners for the Business Enterprise Awards. Launched in association with IAB Qualifications for Business, Lloyds TSB, Mamut Software, FA Simms & Partners Plc, IPP, IBMG Media and Companies House, the prestigious awards, now celebrating 10 years, have become a regular event on the calendar of the small business community, and the professional advisors and educators who serve it.

‘The response to the awards has been fantastic - we have had phenomenal response’ said J Malcolm Dean, member of the short-listing panel and International Development Director IAB.

‘We were very impressed by the diversity of work and business candidates, this made the short-listing task very difficult’, said Wilson Ross, member of the short-listing panel and IAB Council Member.

With a range of categories, the Business Enterprise Awards aim to encourage and support best practice across the small business sector by rewarding the efforts of individuals and companies whose work might be overlooked.

‘Small businesses already make up 97% of the UK’s total business community’, said Malcolm Trotter, Chief Executive of the IAB. ‘Which is why we have included categories such as business entrepreneur, through to pay roll professionals and book-keepers, there is also an award for the social enterprise of the year’, he added.

As Balbir Panesar; a previous Entrepreneur of the Year says encouragingly, ‘It was like winning the FA Cup…and it was good for the company too’.

“The IAB introduced the awards back in 1998 as we discovered that many individuals who make a difference in the UK’s small business community find their efforts go unrewarded,” explained IAB’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Trotter.

“Over the years it has become clear that the recognition afforded by the Business Enterprise Awards has a very positive effect on the winners, their careers and businesses,” he added.

Martin Sands, Lecturer of the Year, agreed with Mr Trotter’s sentiment. Commenting on the publicity surrounding his win, he said:
“It was good for the college. It generated more interest in the courses and renewed my enthusiasm for teaching.”

“Winning the Business Entrepreneur of the Year was so good for me and the business”, said Iqbal Singh Sekhon. “It generated so much publicity for the business that my company was then nominated by Bradford Chamber of Commerce for the Inner City 100 awards organised by the DTi’”, he added.

The Business Enterprise Awards will be presented at the House of Commons in London on Wednesday 21st May 2008

Name Results Student of the Year Gillian Barr Highly Commended Nicole Dunne Finalist Josephine Mc Crudden Winner Lyndsey O'Kane Finalist   Lecturer/Tutor of the Year Mahesh Bhundia Finalist Paul Baron Finalist Yvonne Strawbridge Highly Commended Carolyn Holmes Winner   Social Entrepreneur of the Year Catriona Mcphee-Smith Finalist Stuart Phillips Winner John Whittaker Highly Commended Rajesh Nair Finalist Paul Baron Finalist   Book Keeper of the Year Janet Jack Highly commended Monika Dolewska Winner Reza Hasan Finalist Naresh Parmer Finalist   Business Entrepreneur of the Year Sarah Shafi Highly Commended Jack Ostrowski Winner Dominic List Highly Commended   Business of the Year Robert Head Finalist Wayne Palmer Joint Winner Nina Kaur Joint Winner Darryl Gould Finalist   New Business of the Year Amanda Williamson Finalist Adam Goodyear + James Perkins Winner Anasudhin Azeez Highly Commended Vijay Dayaliji Finalist   Armed Forces Award Staff Sergeant Criddle Winner CPO Logs (pers) Stephen Mulvhill Finalist SSGT Graham Stagg Finalist Mark Christopher Markley Highly Commended     College of the Year City of Bristol College Winner South Downs College Highly commended West Herts College No show     Payroll Professional of the Year Sandra Silk Winner Jackie Petherbridge Highly commended