GoinGreen triumphs at Startups Awards

GoinGreen has been awarded £5,000 and crowned the T-Mobile Startups Business of the Year at the inaugural Startups Awards.

The company, which sells environmentally friendly cars, beat off competition from three other short listed finalists to win the overall prize.

Small businesses in 13 categories were also presented with awards at a lavish ceremony in central London. Over 300 attendees were treated to a three-course lunch before the awards, hosted by Sky TV’s Adrienne Lawler, were presented.

GoinGreen won the Community Impact category before going on to be named Business of the Year. The business’ electric cars are not only environmentally friendly, they also save London drivers money as they are exempt from the capital’s congestion charge. Cheap and simple to run, GoinGreen hopes its G-Wiz product will be car of the future for urban residents.

Keith Johnston, managing director of GoinGreen, said: “We’re completely surprised and absolutely delighted.

“Every big global auto manufacturer is doing their damnest not to have electric cars on anybody’s radar, so it’s left to the small guys like us to put it on there.

“We want to make the car popular in London and then roll it out across the UK and key cities in Europe.

“Smart are our closest competitors – there are due to release a car in one year, after this award I’m sure it will be more like six months.”

Other award winners expressed their delight, with Alex Fontaine, triumphant in the Women in Business category, putting her success down to round the clock dedication, hard work and “always giving my clients the best – never taking no for an answer.”

“I’m having a new car delivered and I’m going to have this award written on the side!” she added.

Vomfass’ Richard Mosconi, winner of the Silver Fox award, given to the top entrepreneur aged over 50, said: “I’m surprised, although I have to let everyone know my age!

“I’m very happy. I’ve been starting up businesses since I was 20, so maybe in 20 years I will still be setting up new ventures. Age is no barrier.”

Brainjuicer’s John Kearon, winner of the Service Business of the Year, said: “It’s very gratifying, it puts a smile on your face.”

Gary Nicholson of Eight Inch, winner of the Manufacturing Business of the Year, said he was “gobsmacked.” He added: “This is affirmation of what I’m doing. This will help others become aware of our work.”

Brigit Doyle of MarketTel Ltd, finalist in the Service Business of the Year, said: “I really enjoyed it. This is a great opportunity to get a pat on the back.”

Marcus Austin, editor in chief of Startups.co.uk, said that the awards had been a “stunning success”.

“This has been a great opportunity to reward the businesses we come into regular contact with through our work on Startups.co.uk. Congratulations to all the winners and the short listed finalists, who did so well to get this far considering the exceptionally high standard of entries,” he said.

The winners in full are:

T-Mobile Startups Business of the Year: GoinGreen

Retailer of the Year: One Small Step One Giant Leap

Manufacturing Business of the Year: Eight Inch

Service Business of the Year: Brainjuicer

Franchise of the Year: KallKwik Cornhill

Micro Business of the Year: The Little Experience

Best Use of Technology: PupilRecords Ltd.

Team of the Year: InfoBasis Ltd.

Online Business of the Year: UK Sports & Leisure Ltd.

Community Impact Award: GoinGreen

Women in Business Award: Alex Fontaine, Personal Timesaver Ltd.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Ben Harris, New Brand Vision

Silver Fox Award: Richard Mosconi, Vomfass

Startups Bank of the Year: Alliance & Leicester