ENTREPRENEURS NEWS | IN BRIEF
MIND CANDY AND LOVEFILM WIN AWARDS
The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) awarded Mind Candy and LoveFilm business management awards at a black tie ceremony held in London last week. Mind Candy, the business behind children’s social networking sensation Moshi Monsters, picked up the Venture Capital Backed-Management Team of the Year award, while Lovefilm received Exit Management Team of the Year award. Mark Florman, chief executive of the BVCA, says: “The management team represent the best our industry has to offer and are a perfect illustration of what can be achieved through sheer hard work and talent.”
ERNST AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
Christopher Dawson has been named Ernst & Young London and South Entrepreneur of the Year 2011. He is behind the retail business The Range, stocking everything from furniture to camping equipment. In 2011, Dawson opened the fiftieth outlet of the business, employing 3,200 people across the UK, with profits of £245m. The independent judges describe Dawson as “an original entrepreneur, who started with nothing, including no external financing, and with passion has built a very profitable business. He has fantastic drive and spirit, for whom there are no limits to what he can do, and who sees opportunity in everything he does.”
NON-DOMS RULES TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS
More relaxed tax rules for “non-domiciled” people who invest in companies which carry on a trade, or develop or let commercial property, will boost enterprise sectors, according to the tax specialists Smith & Williamson. Tim Lyford, the UK’s head of corporate tax at Smith & Williamson, says: “In recent years, non-doms have been discouraged from investing in UK businesses because of the potential tax charges. However, the proposed new rules will make it easier for people to put money into companies and provide welcome flexibility. In short, the changes should be great news for the enterprise economy.”