Business awards in search of this year’s young entrepreneur

We’re accepting entries now for this year’s awards at the dedicated section of our website, telegraphandargus.co.uk/bradfordmeansbusiness.

With the Young Business Entrepreneur of the Year category, sponsored by Horton Print Group, we’re looking for the businesswoman or man under the age of 25 who can show real commercial success using their own skill, ingenuity and business acumen.

You might be a sole trader, or part of a partnership or a larger venture where the success of a firm or project has been due to the drive, enthusiasm and vision of a young individual, either by themselves or leading a team.

We want to know the nature of the business, a profile of the individual, and how that individual made a difference.

If a business start-up or entrepreneurial project, what obstacles were overcome, and what evidence of success is there?

Last year’s winner was Kumar Patel, who was appointed to the managerial role at his family business, Patson Local, after graduating from Aston University, in Birmingham, with an honours degree in business computing and IT BSc.

It is his work in the family business which led him to receiving this award.

His first project at Patson Local, based in Whetley Lane, Bradford, included the management of a store expansion and full store refit, together with the opening of the first-floor delicatessen, at a total cost of £130,000.

After winning the award, he said: “I’m over the moon.

“It is a family-based company, so I used to work there when I was at university in the holidays and at the weekend.” The business now employs eight full-time staff and 11 part-time staff, with an annual turnover in excess of £1.5 million.

Highly commended were: Dr Olga Kubassova, co-founder of Image Analysis Ltd; Sanya Rehman and Zahra Mahmood, jointly nominated for setting up Sanyazahra’s clothing shop inside the Bazaar In Bradford.