THE former high-flyer at software giant Sage, who left to start his own business, has been named the North East's ambassador for entrepreneurship.
Guy Letts, who opened his customer satisfaction software business CustomerSure, this summer is the Journal’s winner of the ‘If we can, you can’ Challenge 2011.
The 48-year-old from Newcastle won the regionwide competition, which saw thousands of Journal readers vote over the last four weeks for the most inspiring leader of a new business to pick a new regional champion for entrepreneurs.
Letts not only becomes the Face of North East Entrepreneurship 2011 in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum competition, but wins a prize package which includes a mentoring package and up to £5,000 worth of business services.
He narrowly beat fellow finalist Marty O’Doherty, who runs Cramlington-based Mystaffdeals, which offers employee incentives and deals to businesses. They were picked by a judging panel headed by motor tycoon and investor Sir Peter Vardy and including last year’s winner Joanna Feeley, of Newcastle-based fashion forecaster Trend Bible.
Over 6,000 votes flooded in, more than any previous year, as the Journal encouraged people to vote for their favourite business after following the two finalists’ entrepreneurial journeys.
Guy said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the winner of this year’s Challenge. I knew there was really stiff competition from Marty, and in some ways I wish there could have been two winners, as our customer satisfaction and staff satisfaction businesses represent two sides of the same coin.
“It is very encouraging to have received such a high level of recognition from ‘pick our brains’ panel of business experts and from the general public. I also want to acknowledge my fantastic team who all help to make the business a success, without them we would not be where we are today.
“While it is still early days for the business, we foresee big growth for CustomerSure over the next year. Our clients are all small and medium sized businesses and they are enthusiastic about the benefits of our customer service software. We have engineered it to allow localisation in other countries and that gives us further opportunities for growth.
“I am very proud to represent North East England and the Journal as a Face of Entrepreneurship and I look forward to inspiring others with my experiences of going into business.”
