MEDIA RELEASE
February 2010
One of World’s Most Powerful Women to Kick-Off Cornwall Business Awards
The Cornwall Development Company has announced the celebrity keynotespeaker at the Cornwall Business Awards 2010, themost prestigious business awards event in the county.
The 300 business leaders attending the awards dinner at St Mellion International on 20th May will start the evening hearingfrom Karren Brady, described by Cosmopolitan as ‘one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.’
Karren Brady isVice Chairman at West Ham United FC. She was formerly the Managing Director of Birmingham City FC for 16 years during a time of great change and is renowned for her dynamic approach to change management and leadership in tough times.
She is currently working with Alan Sugar on the next series of The Apprentice, in which she will be taking over from Margaret Mountford as an advisor to Lord Sugar.
Karren Brady says: “I am delighted to be speaking at the Cornwall Business Awards 2010. Cornwall is undergoing a renaissance in its economy and it is fantastic to see the number of businesses that are flourishing in the county.”
Any business based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scillycanenter one or more of fourteen award categories, which include BestYoung Business Person,Best Websiteand Best Growth Strategy.
Martin Brooks, Chairman of Cornwall Development Company, says: “We are seeing significant change in the business landscape in Cornwall as businesses seize new opportunities in the knowledge economy and make the most of the latest technology to reach out to new markets in new ways. Karren Brady is an expert in change management, so we are looking forward to sharing her insights.”
Peter Mc Gahan, Managing Director of Worldwide Financial Planning and sponsor of the ‘Best New Business’ awards category, says: The Cornwall Business Awards have become the focus of business success in Cornwall, a county that is fast becoming a hotbed of innovation. Each year, the spotlight falls on new businesses that are achieving quite extraordinary things.”
Lyn Thompson of Milkwood Publishing, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 said: “It is great that one of the world’s most powerful women will be addressing the Cornwall Business Awards this year. Women account for a high proportion of all new business starts and we see this vividly in Cornwall, where women are now driving many of the county’s most successful businesses.”
Entries for the Cornwall Business Awards 2010 should be made online and the closing date for entries is March 14th.
A full list of the award categories and criteria, and an online entry form, are available now at
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Notes to Editors:
Awards Categories and Sponsors
AWARD SPONSOR
Young Enterprise Unlocking Cornish Potential
Ignite Cornwall Grow Cornwall (Oxford Innovations)
Best Young Business Person First Great Western
Best New Business Worldwide Financial Planning
Best Social Enterprise The Eden Project
Customer Focus Business Cornwall
Business Improvement through People Cornwall College Business
Best Use of Technology BT
Best Website Cornwall Development Company
Best Marketing Strategy NatWest
Best Growth Strategy South West of England RDA
Best Diversification Cornwall Chamber
Best Exporter UKTrade & Investment
Best Business Innovation Combined Universities in Cornwall
Entrepreneur of the Year Coodes
Business Leader of the Year Ginsters
Winner of Winners Business Link
Cornwall Development Company is the economic development service for Cornwall Council and its mission is to achieve sustainable prosperity in Cornwall. It provides a range of services to support economic growth, co-ordinates and enables partnerships and has helped develop the county’s economic development strategy. For more information, please visit
For information on next year’s Cornwall Business Awards, please visit