Heropreneurs is delighted to announce that Surge Group Plc has become the Main and Headline Sponsor to the Heropreneurs Awards. The Awards are run in association with The Telegraph and the Warwick Business School, and with support from the Ministry of Defence.
Surge Group Plc was founded by Paul Careless in January 2015, a start-up with zero debt or venture capital. In 2018, the group will exceed £50m in annual turnover. Paul Careless served in the British Army and has since become one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs – his personal motto is “Do not fear failure. Fear mediocrity”.
Paul Careless, the CEO and Founder of Surge Group Plc said: “Surge Group is delighted to be the Headline sponsor of the Heropreneurs Awards as our interests are so aligned with that of Heropreneurs. We have started and incubated a number of start-up businesses in the past which have been led by ex-Military and I fully intend to start more.
I am a huge supporter of both ex-military and start ups and, although a lot is made of the difficulties around transition, I see a thriving community with lots of success.”
Peter Mountford, the Chairman of Heropreneurs said: “We could not have found a better Headline Sponsor for the Heropreneurs Awards than Paul Careless and the Surge Group Plc. Paul exemplifies the characteristics
of an Armed Forces Entrepreneur and is an inspiration to anyone leaving the Armed Forces that wishes to set up their own business. As a result of Paul and the Surge Group’s generosity, Heropreneurs is now able to award a £10,000 cash prize to the winner of the Start up of the Year Category which can be used by the winner for training or the further development of their new business. Paul has also kindly offered to mentor the winner of this award for a period of at least one year”.
Further sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Note: For more information contact:
Peter Mountford, Chairman of Heropreneurs Amanda Rayner, Head of Events
Mobile: 07774 842761 Tel: 01494 671332
Email: peter@heropreneurs.co.uk Email: amanda@heropreneurs.co.uk
Note about Heropreneurs and the Heropreneurs Awards
The Heropreneurs Awards is a new initiative created to celebrate the achievements of ex-Armed Forces personnel in business. It is run by Heropreneurs, the charity created in 2009, that helps ex-Armed Forces personnel and their dependants on the road to creating their own businesses.
The Judges for the Heropreneurs Awards are all exceptional people who have been recruited from the world of business, politics, and the Armed Forces. Chaired by General Sir John McColl KCB CBE DSO, the Judges include Paddy Ashdown, Deborah Meaden (from Dragons’ Den), Major General Andrew Pringle CB CBE, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB (Controller, SSAFA), Chris Weston (CEO – Aggreko plc), Rear Admiral Alex Burton (CEO – EWaterPay), Emma Jones (Founder – Enterprise Nation), and Emma Willis MBE DL (Founder – Style for Soldiers).
A total of eight Awards will be made in the following categories:
- Business Leader of the Year
- Employer of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Heropreneur of the Year
- Military Partner of the Year
- Start-Up of the Year (the winner of this award will receive a cash prize of £10,000 to further develop their business)
- Veterans’ Foundation Award (the winner of this award will receive a charitable grant of £10,000 from the Veterans’ Foundation)
- Warwick Business School Award (the winner of this Award will receive a bursary of 100% to complete an MBA with the Warwick Business School)
The Awards ceremony will take place on 14 November 2018 at a formal dinner in the Plaisterers’ Hall in the City of London and will be hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Naga Munchetty.
Nominations to the Heropeneurs awards closed on 8 June 2018. There is no charge to enter the Awards or for Finalists to attend the Awards dinner.
Heropreneurs is registered charity number 1136671, and a member of Cobseo, that was formed 9 years ago to help anyone from the Armed Forces, or their dependants, who wish to start a business or who have created their own business but need strategic help. Heropreneurs runs a free Mentoring Programme that anyone who has served in the Armed Forces can apply to join. Mentors are very carefully chosen and are all successful entrepreneurs or business people who give their time entirely for free. Heropreneurs does not promote entrepreneurship for the sake of it, as 50% of new start-ups fail in their first 4 years, and takes a highly responsible and ethical approach to the help that it gives. Heropreneurs does not employ a CEO, has no offices, and is run by volunteers who willingly give their time for free and who receive no financial benefit from their involvement.
