Rural Face of Entrepreneurship announced

The winner of the ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge 2010, the North East regional entrepreneurial campaign, is announced today.

Ian Nelson from Willington, County Durham who founded T Caddy, manufacturers of specialist golf accessories, has been named as this year’s winner of the ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge and claimed the title of the ‘face of North East entrepreneurship’ 2011. He will take home a unique prize package which includes a ‘money can’t buy’ package of mentoring and business services worth up to £5000.

Ian and fellow finalists Justin Souter, James Brown, Maddy Stuckey, Jimmy Bell and James Cookson all attended a ‘Pick Our Brains Opportunity’ panel where they pitched their business ideas to a high-calibre entrepreneurial panel.

This is the first year that the ‘If we can, you can’ Challenge has incorporated a category for Rural Entrepreneurship; something that Stephen Green from the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, which runs the campaign, says has been a valuable activity.

“It’s very important to recognise the achievements of entrepreneurs and their success – we’ve discovered some fantastic people running great businesses in the North East’s rural landscape and the ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge allows us to champion them, support them in developing their ambition and help them to grow their businesses.”

The Rural Challenge is supported by the Country Land and Business Association, which has been working with the campaign to spread the word about the entrepreneurial talent in the North East. Director of the CLA Angus Collingwood-Cameron said:

“The Rural Challenge has been fantastic and it is really invigorating to see such a high calibre of entrants who operate such different businesses. Their passion and drive to succeed, particularly in such difficult financial times is inspiring. This only reinforces the view that our rural economy is full of enterprising people.”

Six shortlisted finalists of the Rural Challenge were invited to take part in a unique judging panel – The ‘Pick Our Brains Opportunity’. The finalists were asked to pitch their businesses to five well-established entrepreneurs who, as well as choosing the overall winner, offered their advice and guidance to the finalists based on their years’ of entrepreneurial experience.

The panel of judges included global construction manufacturer, Miller International founder Keith Miller; Tony Trapp, Chairman of leading offshore engineering company, IHC Engineering Business, Ali McLean from specialist adventure tour operator, Activities Abroad and Chief Executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Carole Beverley.

Ian Nelson, of T Caddy said: “I am thrilled to have been chosen as the winner of the ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge. I know I had stiff competition from all the other finalists and I hear that it was a pretty close call between us.

“I am really looking forward to taking advantage of the business mentoring services that forms part of my prize and I am so proud to represent the North East as a face of entrepreneurship.”

Runners up Maddy Stuckey, founder of Northumberland based natural skin, hair and body care producer Natural Empathy and James Brown of land agency JamesRobsonBrown Ltd from Hexham were named as ‘Ambassadors for Rural Entrepreneurship’ and will join winner Ian at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s ‘Building Business for Growth’ conference on the 4th November.

Maddy Stuckey, from Natural Empathy said: “I am so happy to have been named as an Ambassador for the ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge. I think it is so important to support entrepreneurial talent in the North East and rural Northumberland as we have a wealth of great businesses that we need to shout about.”

James Brown from JamesRobsonBrown Ltd said: “The panel was very positive, inspiring, and confidence giving. It made me feel that I am going on the right track and I’m now even more motivated and raring to grow my business.”

The other finalists who attended the ‘Pick Our Brains Opportunity’ panel last week all gained invaluable advice from the panellists for their businesses.

Carole Beverley of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum said: “Congratulations to Ian for winning this years’ ‘If we can, you can’ Rural Challenge and to Maddy and James for being named as an ‘Ambassadors of Rural Entrepreneurship.’ Well done also to the other three finalists who were chosen to attend the panel.”

All of this year’s entrants have shared their enterprising story and joined the ever growing online community of like minded entrepreneurs at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk, which now has over 860 members and dedicated 120 mentors. The community encourages people to share their stories, offering budding and aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to tap into a wealth of experience of people who have ‘been there and done it’ by exchanging experiences and creating connections.