Startups Awards 2014 are open for entries

By Sara Williams

The 11^th annual Startups Awards have launched and are now open for entries, including the search for the Restaurant of the Year. To enter simply visit www.startupsawards.co.uk before the entry deadline of 12^th September 2014. There are 15 awards up for grabs this year including the new 2014 category, Restaurant of the Year. The Awards recognise the success of Britain’s newest businesses which have been trading for three years or less. The Awards are sponsored by Simply Business and organised by Startups.co.uk. Other categories include Innovative Business of the Year, Service Business of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, alongside another new award for 2014: Independent Shop of the Year. The main prize is the much coveted title of Simply Business Startups Business of the Year, the winner of which is selected from the winners of the other categories. Additionally, the People’s Champion award will go to one of 50 companies that make the long list of outstanding entrants before the finalists are announced and will be voted for by readers of Startups.co.uk. David Lester, founder of Startups.co.uk, said: “Eight years ago, Paul Lindley was starting children’s food business Ella’s Kitchen in his kids’ playroom. In the company’s first year it won the Micro Business of the Year title at the Startups Awards. Last year, Paul sold his multi-million turnover business to a billion-dollar revenue US giant.” David Lester believes that this is evidence that the Startup Awards spots real winners before the world even knows about them. He continues to say: “We can’t wait to start seeing the entries from businesses that will be market leaders, great employers, and innovators admired throughout the UK and beyond in years to come." The Startups Awards’ headline sponsor, Simply Business, returns for a second year as the sponsorship to the Startups awards give them “enormous pride and enthusiasm for the years to come.” Jasper Martens, Head of Marketing & Communications at Simply Business, commented: “There is simply no better celebration of business achievement