Lancaster Environment Centre

This winners of the 2007 competition are:

Kenneth Cheung from Liverpool, who will produce liquid organic fertilizers by recycling food wastes. He will also develop a biological method of eliminating odour problems from domestic refuse bins. Kenneth, a biochemistry graduate from York University, said: "I am really pleased and excited that I have been chosen as a winner of this competition. There are great facilities and help in the Lancaster Environment Centre. This is definitely a big opportunity to help establish my business and a step closer for me to changing the world for the better.”

Eddie Sammon and Andrew Glover, who are establishing Ethical Fuels Ltd, a bio-fuel feedstock manufacturing and trading business, wishing to produce the necessary oils required for bio-fuel production sustainably from algae, which can produce significantly more oil per hectare than traditional “fuel crops”. Eddie is in the 2nd year of his Business Studies degree in the University’s Management School, while Andrew graduated from the same course this summer. Eddie said “Becoming one of the winners from this competition will provide us with a working environment where we can work along side LEC’s researchers, to help us progress with our plans.”

Becky Toal from Chorley, who will launch Crowberry Consulting Ltd, an environment, ethics and corporate social responsibility management consultancy. Becky said “ winning this competition will enable my business to grow, develop and offer bespoke services and solutions for clients in the area of environmental management, business ethics and social responsibility. LEC has excellent facilities and networks to help young start-up companies to thrive in the sustainability and environmental technology sector. I am thrilled to have my business chosen for this award, and look forward to a productive working relationship”

Each of the businesses will be based in The Gordon Manley Building – the new business extension to LEC, where they will receive 12 months’ free incubation support and accommodation to turn their business into reality. Other elements of their prize, include: training and mentoring, assistance with incorporation costs and website development, £500 of technical consultancy by Lancaster researchers and help accessing collaborative grant funding opportunities.

The winners were selected by a panel of business experts including: CLB Coopers, Enterprise Ventures, Lonsdale & Partners, the Rainbow Seed Fund and Sharp Marketing Consultancy in addition to representatives from the Lancaster Business Creation Project and the University’s Management School. Chris Holroyd who managed the competition said “ I am very grateful to the panel members for their valuable contributions, but also to the entrants for the considerable effort they made in producing such high quality business plans. I am truly looking forward to ensuring the winners succeed with their new businesses”.

The 2008 competition will open in April until then; more information on the 2007 competition is available on our competition page.