ENTREPRENEURS leading high growth businesses in the health and care sector have been recognised for their success, taking the spoils in prestigious annual awards.
David Lynch, of Lynch Healthcare, and Ian Watson, of Hadrian Healthcare, were the toast of the North East entrepreneurial community at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum awards.
More than 300 Forum members and guests packed the Hilton Newcastle-Gateshead to celebrate a year of growth and to honour the cream of entrepreneurship, including seeing Sir John Hall recognised with the award for lifetime achievement.
Chairman Nigel Mills said: “Our awards are unique because they are awarded to entrepreneurs by entrepreneur; it’s a real achievement to be recognised by your peers.”
Hosted by radio presenter and comedian Alfie Joey, the awards were the climax to the evening with the finalists chosen from a record number of nominations.
In the Emerging Talent award, David Lynch was up against Charlotte Prenelle, of Pranella fashion accessories brand, and Martyn Young, of Sunderland-based First2Print.
Lynch Healthcare is a leading specialist manufacturer, supplier and installer of disability products for moving and handling patients to customers including the NHS, nursing homes, local authorities, special schools and private clinicians.
It launched its manufacturing division this year and has created its own brand of patient slings, made at its factory in Sunderland, which is expected to have great export potential to Europe and the Far East.
David said: “There have been many times when I’ve thought ‘am I doing the right thing, should I change the strategy, should I change the vision?’ But we’ve stuck with it and now we have a fantastic team which has made all the difference.”
Ian Watson faced high-performing opposition for the title of Entrepreneur of the Year in Andrew Esson, of Quick Hydraulics; Dean Benson, of Visualsoft; and Bryan Bunn, of Nortech Solutions.
A family business, Hadrian Healthcare owns a growing group of ten luxury residential, nursing and dementia care homes for the elderly in the North East and Yorkshire.
Ian started the business in 1992 after a career in banking before selling it, starting another healthcare business that he also sold, then reestablishing the Hadrian Healthcare brand in 2007. It now employs 700 staff.
“As an organisation we put ourselves at the forefront in being innovative in care techniques, in the environments we provide and in the manner in which we deliver care,” said Ian.
The event was also a major fundraiser for the Great North East Air Ambulance with guests supporting the charity through envelope donations, a silent auction, a money tree and a raffle.
The awards celebration kicked off a new autumn season of Forum events which include open events with Mark Williams ‘Mr LinkedIn’ and Mark Shorrock, a developer of large-scale renewable energy projects, a focus dinner with Geoff Turnbull, of GT Group, mentoring surgeries, a round table discussion on marketing and the Fortune Favours the Brave annual conference on November 20.
For more information, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net
