NEW Chamber of Commerce chief Jack Stopforth backed the Liverpool ECHO Enterprise Champions awards today.
The chamber is sponsoring the Young Business Person of the Year Award in the ECHO's fourth Enterprise Champions honours and Mr Stopforth, who took over as chamber chief executive two weeks ago, said he and the organisation are proud to be supporting the initiative through the chamber's sponsorship.
He said: "Enterprise is vital to support and encourage a thriving economy and as the largest independent private sector forum in the city we play a key role in developing an enterprise culture.
"Through the New Entrepreneur Scheme we have a proven record of helping many new businesses set up and we are keen to ensure the momentum continues."
The chamber also offers its 1,500 members a wide range of services and support including training, trade missions, representation and more than 90 networking events a year.
Last year's Young Business Person of the Year was Tony Caldeira, who has seen his Knowsley-based Cushion Factory expand at a tremendous rate.
His business even received a Rising Star accolade from Chancellor Gordon Brown at the Inner City 100 awards in London late last year.
The search is now on for the next Young Business Person of the Year, an accolade available to any individual aged below 35 employed by, or running, a business in the region.
Judges will be seeking the person who has done the most to enhance the reputation of their company or who has shown outstanding individual achievement.
Candidates could also feature in the overall Enterprise Champion 2005 category.
Entrants have between now and April 8 to submit their entries and winners of the six categories in this year's awards will be announced at a presentation night on June 15.
The Enterprise Champions Awards are in association with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank and supported by Business Link for Greater Merseyside.
Enterprise Champions 
