Young Business Person of the Year
Winner: Darren Williams, company director, Hair X-Tensions Ltd, Seaham
DARREN always had extraordinary ambitions in business and despite a hearing difficulty decided to make his first successful enterprise a music-based website.
Then with his partner Angela Place, he set up Hair X-Tensions in 2005 which sells hair extensions online around the world. The business, fuelled by Darren’s skills online and Angela’s love of style and fashion, has become a success with customers around the world.
The company sells 25% of its product abroad and is strengthening its presence in the USA.
Its customer base stands at more than 26,000 and its website can attract more than 800,000 unique visits in 12 months. Darren, now aged 29, disliked school, where his partial deafness held back his progress. But working as an IT support agent at Rolls-Royce in the Midlands for RDS, he amassed his cyber expertise. The company has now picked up 11 awards and is on line to see turnover of £1m this year.
Runners-up:
Kevin Mann, founder and chief creative officer, Graphic.ly, Middlesbrough
A TEESSIDE University graduate and product of the university’s Graduates for Business Scheme, Kevin got the rewarding idea of digitalising printed comics.
He negotiated with publishers and now has an award-winning company with 100,000 users and the backing of Microsoft.
He was inspired to launch his business because of his frustration at not being able to read comics online. Through his company’s website, readers can access comic favourites like Spider-man, Transformers and Star Trek. Since the firm’s formation in 2008, Kevin has been acclaimed a top technology entrepreneur by Bloomberg Business Week.
He won a Digital City innovation fellowship and has the One North East R&D Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. His enterprise has been backed by NorthStar Equity Investors and One North East, with Business Link mentoring. American backers include venture capitalists DFJ Mercury, Starz Media (of Simpsons fame), and Chris Sacca, an early investor in Twitter. Kevin has 20 employees (11 in Middlesbrough, nine in the USA) and is 27.
Michael Taylor, managing director, Contego Environmental Services Ltd, Chilton, County Durham
SIX years ago Michael, who had learned falconry as a boy, applied later experience gained from working on two blockbuster films to set up his own esoteric business employing birds of prey.
He had got to know a film location manager at Durham University where he was studying. When they met again later he was invited to help in the making of two Harry Potter films at various UK locations and in Poland.
After working some time for Leavesden Studios, he decided to return to the North East and set up his own business, for which he received Prince’s Trust fund backing. His company provides pest control services and wildlife management.
It also tests scientifically to trace any diseases that may be passed on to humans. Michael is now extending his services to other parts of the country. Michael lives in Spennymoor and is 25.