SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by 20/20 Liverpool Furniture Resource Centre THE FRC creates work for unemployed people recycling furniture which is sold at realistic prices to needy people. The initiative also benefits the environment by cutting down on landfill by providing a collection service for bulky furniture items. Alternatives ALTERNATIVES is part of the Lighthouse Project, which addresses the needs of drugs misusers. Alternatives works with recovering drugs and alcohol misusers, ex-offenders and homeless, providing training and the chance to gain employment. The scheme raises funds from commercial ventures, including a dedicated alleygates manufacturer. Create Liverpool SPUN out of the Furniture Resource Centre, Create recycles and refurbishes a variety of white goods that would normally have ended up on tips or landfill and provides training and employment for local residents. The goods are sold at affordable prices, and Create has also established a bursary programme which provides goods free of charge to needy recipients. Acorn Venture Association FOUNDED in 1985, Acorn converted a builders' tip into an inner-city farm which provides educational experiences through initiatives like an animal petting pavilion and an "animobile", which takes animals to groups unable to visit the Knowsley centre. It has also established a farm shop and cafe. BEST NEW BUSINESS AWARD
Sponsored by Liverpool Echo IPS Costslaw FROM humble beginnings Ian Seddon's IPS Costslaw is now a national player with clients from Dorset to Newcastle in the highly specialised field of recovering the legal costs of successful court actions. In its first year the business recovered almost £4m for clients and it moved from its Woolton base into bigger city centre premises as its staffing trebled and turnover doubled. go cre8 FORMER Preston North End FC trainee Paul Lin and Darryn Kennerley set up their own graphic design and communication venture in what they admit was a gamble with just one client - local nightclub Society - and no money of their own. They have now diversified into a range of different fields such as banner stands, CD/DVD duplications and packaging and display and exhibition material for clients with a global network, such as media giant Emap. Sequence Biotechnologies
(See Micro Business of the Year) | 
