Hallidays congratulates clients shortlisted for North West Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
Hallidays are proud to announce that two of their clients have been shortlisted for North West Entrepreneur of the Year Awards:
• Paper Salad has been shortlisted for ‘Most Entrepreneurial Company’
• Northern Soul Sportswear has been shortlisted for ‘Leisure Entrepreneur of the year’
Paper Salad was created in 2005 by two freelance designers Karen and Claire who design and produce contemporary greeting cards, gift wrap and social stationary in their own unique style. They also have successful licensing deals for a range of products from children’s clothes and other gifts which are distributed worldwide. Their clients include Waterstones; Paperchase; Funky Pigeon; John Lewis; Waitrose, The Co-op.
In October 2015, Paper Salad won two top industry awards, beating stiff competition from Hallmark, Orla Kiely and Marks and Spencer. They have increased their turnover year on year since 2010 and are projected to continue to grow. As designers, Karen and Claire developed their leadership and management skills by joining Hallidays Business AM programme. In addition, they use Hallidays Business One Page Plan to provide them with a monthly snapshot of the key drivers of their business and focus their attention on what matters. By consistently and persistently taking action Karen and Claire have succeeded in growing their business and their team. As their team expanded, they used Hallidays DISC behavioural profiling to help them understand their individual leadership styles and how to get the best out of each team member, including developing the potential of their ‘rising stars’.
Karen Wilson and Claire Williams, Directors at Paper Salad said:
“We would be delighted to win this award to be an inspiration to other creative individuals who we want to encourage to follow their dreams. Studying art and design is often seen as a lesser degree than a more academic choice and we were often told that artists never make any money! We are proof that if you are talented and willing to work very hard that you can combine your love of art and design with a very commercial, profitable business!”
Nigel Bennett, Hallidays Managing Director said:
“Many people who start up in business are experts in what they do. Karen and Claire were fantastic designers. They had two distinct qualities that made them easy to help, they were open minded and they took action. When I first met them I provocatively described their business as a hobby – it is now a well-managed and successful business that will achieve the goals that Karen and Claire described when we first met in 2009. Not only that, I get to achieve one of my goals – to support local businesses to fulfil their potential.”
Northern Soul Sportswear Limited (NSSL) specialise in retailing a wide range of Lacrosse apparel and equipment. Their team are passionate about the sport and are all actively involved as players, coaches or officials, making them experts at providing impartial advice on the most appropriate equipment to suit their budget and level of play.
Founded in 2010 by father and son Clive and Jason Perrin, their business has grown year on year with them supporting all major lacrosse tournaments in the UK. Operating in a niche market, NSSL have played a crucial part in the development of lacrosse since opening for business. With lacrosse growing at University level throughout Europe, there is a marvellous opportunity to seriously raise the sport’s profile and create a legacy NSSL can continue to be proud of.
During the past year, they have driven their business forward with the launch of their redesigned website. Their vision is to grow their business by targeting key areas within the UK and Europe.
Clive Perrin, Director of Northern Soul Sportswear said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be nominated and shortlisted for this prestigious award recognising our endeavours in a very niche leisure market.”
Hallidays Director, Valerie Wain praised NSSL on their shortlisting;
“We are delighted that Northern Soul Sportswear have been shortlisted for this award, their dedication to Lacrosse, to make the sport more accessible and grow their business at the same time is testament to all their hard work and this award highlights that. Everyone at Hallidays is wishing them the best of luck and we’re hoping they can go all the way and win it!”
The winners will be announced at the awards gala dinner on the 3rd November at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Cheshire. The event will be hosted by one of the North West’s finest and funniest comedians, actor, writer and radio presenter Justin Moorhouse.
The 2016 Judging Panel comprises of:
• Rachel Elnaugh – Award winning entrepreneur who starred as a Dragon in the first two series of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, founded Red Letter Days and co-founded SourceTV.
• Dr. Vikas Shah – CEO & Founder of Swistcot Group & Chair of TiE UK North
• Lisa Greenhalgh – Chief Operating Officer – Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF)
• Prof. David Spicer – Dean, Salford Business School
• Peter Hills – Chairman – Academy of Chief Executives and Owner, Untapped Potential
• Steven Lindsay – Senior Parter, Kay Johnson Gee Chartered Accountants
• Robert Levy – Executive Partner, Kuits
• Dr. Robert A. Phillips – Lecturer in Enterprise, Manchester Business School
• Ian Cass – Managing Director, Forum of Private Business
• David Beatty – Regional Corporate Director, North – HSBC
Learn more about how Hallidays support local businesses to grow by visiting www.hallidays.co.uk
