Celebrating Enterprise 2019 was held at The House of Lords on the 3rd October and brought together key figures from the small business, enterprise and skills sector in the UK, celebrating and recognising the very best in enterprise learning and skills.
IOEE Chief Executive, Sarah Trouten
IOEE Chief Executive, Sarah Trouten opened the award with an inspiring speech and a thank you to all sponsors for making the day possible. Next, Baron John Bird MBE presented his IOEE Lifetime Achievement Award by Managing Director of the event’s headline sponsor Marston’s Telecoms, Tony Ford. Baron Bird MBE’s speech on receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award was captivating, taking the room on a journey of his life from childhood to present day and how the Big Issue came to be.
IOEE Lifetime Achievement Award winner Baron Bird MBE,Tony Ford, Managing Director, Marston’s Telecoms
Next up was Enterprising Learner of the Year, the shortlisted nominees were Shankar Jalota, Abdullah Ahmed and James Turner. The winner was announced as Abdullah Ahmed and Abdullah graciously received his award, presented by Sarah Moore-Williams of London South Bank University. Abdullah was sentenced for a firearms offence and whilst in custody gained SFEDI and personal trainer qualifications in order to prepare himself for the outside world. Abdullah has since gone on to start up his own personal training business.
Sarah Moore-Williams, LSBU, Abdullah Ahmed, Enterprising Learner of the Year
For Enterprise Educator of the Year there was a Highly Commended award which went to Andrew Baird of Manchester Metropolitan University for his outstanding project work in Vietnam. The Enterprise Educator of the Year award went to Giuditta Meneghetti presented by Kiran Trehan of ISBE. With over twenty years in enterprise education, Giuditta has worked with a wide range of students to overcome barriers to employment and to consider self-employment as a viable route. 
Kiran Trehan, Deputy President, ISBE, Enterprise Educator of the Year Highly Commended Andrew Baird, award collected on behalf by Paul Tucker.
Kiran Trehan, Deputy President, ISBE, Enterprise Educator of the Year, Giuditta Meneghetti
The award for Enterprise Support Champion went to Charles Cracknell presented by Alex Till of NEN. Charles founded the Youth Enterprise Bank fifteen years ago and is currently the Employment and Youth Manager at Hull City Council.
Enterprise Support Champion winner Charles Cracknell, Alex Till, Chairman, NEN
Intrapreneur of the Year went to Richard Beards, the award was presented by Sarah Palmer of IAB. Richard has been intrumental in the development of a new initiative called Digital Northampton which brings together the public and private sectors to achieve common goals. For this category a Highly Commended award was also presented to Katy Duke of RAU for her intrapreneurial flair through the universities two social enterprise projects she manages, Muddy Wellies and Cotswold Hills.
Sarah Palmer, Director, IAB, Intrapreneur of the Year, Richard Beards
Sarah Palmer, Director, IAB, Intrapreneur of the Year, Highly Commended, Katy Duke
Receiving the award for IOEE Member of the Year was Founder of SAMEE, Sam Everard, the award was presented by Tony Ford of Marston’s Telecoms. Sam’s main principle is to work with those furthest away from the world of work and deliver in a style which engages them, increases self-confidence and motivation.
IOEE Member of the Year, Sam Everard, Marston’s Telecoms, Managing Director, Tony Ford
Next followed the Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year for which Kick Off in Business received a High Commendation for their work with a range of partners from Premier League Football Clubs to HM Prisons running short events that are fun, engaging, practical and useful. The winner of Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year went to the Royal Agricultural University, the award was presented to the RAU team by Managing Director of IoSCM, Jacky Smith. RAU has embraced entrepreneurship at it’s very heart and seeks to support students at all stages of developing their business both through the curriculum and a range of extracurricular activities.
Jacky Smith, Managing Director, IoSCM, Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year, Highly Commended, Kick Off In Business
Jacky Smith, Managing Director, IoSCM, Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year winner Royal Agricultural University team
The final award of the ceremony was the Special Recognition Award in memory of Kevin Rumfitt, Co-Founder of IOSCM. The award was presented to Andrew Kennedy by Lynne Gatenby, Director at IoSCM.
Lynne Gatenby, Director, IoSCM, Special Recognition Award winner, Andrew Kennedy
Celebrating Enterprise 2019 was then closed by Executive Chair of SFEDI Group, Ruth Lowbridge MBE talked passionately about the benefits that enterprise & entrepreneurship is able to bring to the UK economy as well as our society as a whole. The IOEE and SFEDI would like to extend a huge congratulations to all winners, highly commended and those shortlisted. As well as a thank you to all sponsors Marston’s Telecoms, London South Bank University, International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB), Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE) and National Enterprise Network.
Executive Chair, SFEDI Group, Ruth Lowbridge MBE
If you’d like to recap the day for yourself or have an insight into how the day went, you can check out #CE2019 on Twitter.