In a large room high up in ITV’s Southbank towers with a stunning view across the river, I joined an excited group of around 150 people who had come together to hear the announcement of the winners of the innovative BrandAmplifier programme – created by Lambeth businesswoman Jeannette Pritchard of jpcreative – and supported by Lambeth Council (and sponsors ITV, RBS, Think Tall Films and London South Bank University).
BrandAmplifer selects around 20 finalists from all the applicant Lambeth businesses and provides a four week intensive business training and mentoring programme. Earlier in the day, each of the finalists had “pitched” their businesses to the judges – in true Dragon’s Den style – in the hope of winning.
With 2013 being its fourth year, the programme has seen the creation of 55 business start-ups and real growth and success for many of its alumni.
I wandered around the displays which provided some insight into the nature of these businesses – there was jewellery, recycled accessories, baby slings, flowers, innovative clips and handles, personal stylists, architects, photographers, swimwear, cosmetics, leather goods, learning programmes, aromatherapy massage and designers. Quite an array of talent by any measure.
After brief speeches by “JP”, Jackie Meldrum (Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Council) and Clive Bennett, the Mayor of Lambeth (in his splendid chain of office) the awards were presented by the judges who included Georgie Bingham (broadcaster and journalist - the only female host on talkSPORT), Zoe Robson (founder of Zen Studio Ltd, a design consultancy and manufacturer that specialises in interactive point-of-sale advertising displays) and Sylvia Marshall (one of the UK’s leading property, renovation and DIY entrepreneurs and an expert on the BBC1 show ‘Britain’s Empty Homes’).
The winners were: Silver – Nicky Doodson of Nicky Doodson Flowers Ltd Gold – Julie Hannay of John and Pearl Platinum – Sarah Kohn of Early Bird First Aid
And as I chatted to some of the people there I met some inspiring folk from local Morley College who told me about a new range of enterprise qualifications and courses that they were running to help people create, launch and grow their own businesses – with courses covering marketing, writing press releases and even street trading. So if you feel inspired to start your own business, then you might sign up for a course and be one of the people applying for the BrandAmplifier programme next year.
For further information: http://www.brandamplifier.co.uk/ Twitter @brandamplifier facebook.com/brandamplifier http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/ http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/departments/enterprise
