Byline: Tom Kelly
ENTERPRISING YOUNG BRITS MAKE YOUR MARK
ALISTAIR Darling yesterday hailed Britain's young entrepreneurs as the potential saviours of the economy.
The Chancellor was speaking at the fifth Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits awards which honoured the best businessmen and women aged 30 and under.
He said their 'energy, imagination and determination' was clear evidence the country had what it took to get through the global financial crisis.
Mr Darling said: 'I have been enormously impressed with the talent of the winners and the finalists.
'They have excellent ideas and also have the enterprise to develop those ideas. It is these abilities that will get the country though the difficult times.
'The enterprise, imagination and determination to succeed of these young people sends a clear message that there is a good future out there. It is all to play for.' The five winners were picked from a shortlist by a distinguished panel, including the Mail's City editor Alex Brummer and TV entrepreneur Caroline Marsh, from estate agents Platinum Properties.
A sixth prize, the People's Choice Award, decided by the public in an online vote, went to Dean Rhodes-Brandon, 17, for Your Local Cinema, an innovative website to help the hearing-impaired and visually impaired enjoy the cinema by listing screenings that cater for them.
The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at the headquarters of the Institute of Directors in Central London.
Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors and a member of the judging panel, said: 'These inspirational young people have all shown creativity, determination and business nous.
'It's been said that because young people have never faced a recession before they won't know how to deal with it.
'What is clear from meeting the winners and finalists is that young people are handling the recession. They regard it as another thing they have to deal with when developing a business and get on with it.'
Chairman of the judges Harry Rich, chief executive of Make Your Mark, the campaign behind the awards, said: 'It's great to see people making money in these tough economic times and we hope this signals a bright future for British business.'
The awards scheme has discovered some of Britain's brightest talent and helped their businesses to the next level.
t.kelly@dailymail.co.uk
BUSINESS
PRIYA LAKHANI, 27
COMPANY: Masala Masala
HER STORY: Priya started her first venture with her brother, Vips, when she was still a schoolgirl at Altrincham Grammar School in Greater Manchester, buying second-hand electrical equipment at auctions and selling it on at a profit.
It led to the siblings being nicknamed Del Boy and Rodney after the wheelerdealer Trotter brothers in Only Fools And Horses, with Priya as Rodney.
She later trained as a lawyer, but gave up her career last year to set up Masala Masala, which creates authentic Indian BUSINESS cooking sauces after spotting a niche in the market.
The business boasts that it has the only fresh, non-Anglicised Indian sauces on the chilled shelf.
It already sells in delis in 30 countries and has launched in department store Harvey Nichols.
Priya lives in North London with her husband Rahul Bakrania, who is himself a high-flyer, as a director at corporate jet company Netjets.
SHE SAYS: 'I'm always coming up with new business ideas and marketing plans in the middle of the night.
'I used to wake my husband up to tell him about them, but now he makes me write them down so he can get some sleep.'
TEEN
MATT LOVETT, 17
COMPANY: Wow Media UK
HIS STORY: Matt started his first business when he was at school, funding it by savings, pocket money and a school sweetshop. He enrolled in college in 2007 but left after one day to set up Birminghambased internet marketing company WOW Media. The group operates more than ten websites that offer visitors discounts on goods and services. Major retailers pay to get their wares advertised on the sites so they can get the extra custom. He employs six people, aged 18 to 40.
HE SAYS: 'It doesn't matter what your age is. What matters is how good your idea is.'
CREATIVE
ADAM DUFFY, 26
COMPANY: Looks Can Kill
HIS STORY: Adam started an engineering degree at Warwick University, but later moved into fashion design.
Using a [pounds sterling]10,000 bank loan, he set up Looks Can Kill, which offers customisable trainers online. Customers can get their name, photo or favourite slogan printed on their trainer within days. Adam, from Stratford-upon- Avon, has ambitious growth plans for next year.
HE SAYS: 'Don't be afraid to fail. If you have a good idea you have to give it a try.'
LUCIAN TARNOWSKI, 25
COMPANY: BraveNewTalent.com
HIS STORY: Lucian set up his company while an undergraduate at Edinburgh University. It has already revolutionised the global recruitment market by turning the traditional model on its head. Rather than employers going out into the market fishing for talent, the site enables jobhunters to check vacancies and even interact with employers via social media sites. Based in London with an office in India, BraveNewTalent is integrated into Facebook, Bebo and Myspace.
HE SAYS: 'I've always been interested in enterprise.
I started selling apples out of a bucket when I was four years old.' GLOBAL
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY
KERRY KOLBE, 30
COMPANY: Signal Films
HER STORY: Kerry trained as a journalist in Edinburgh and worked at her local paper in Barrow, Cumbria, before starting Signal Flims with business partner Loren Slater. Backed by lottery funding and the Arts Council, Signal provides free creative opportunities for filmmakers, writers and artists. The aim was to stop the brain drain from Cumbria. Last month its festival provided free training to 70 locals and three days of masterclasses and events for a further 200.
SHE SAYS: 'Barrow is a long way from Hollywood, but because of the internet we can make it work.'
CAPTION(S):
Sauce of success: Masala Masala's Priya Lakhani with Alistair Darling yesterday
