Business award named after former Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper
A business awards event this summer is to name its prize for start-up companies in honour of Darren Cooper, the leader of Sandwell Council who died suddenly earlier this year.
Ninder Johal, organiser of the Nachural Summer Business Ball and Awards at Wolverhampton Racecourse on July 15, said the decision was a 'no brainer'.
"He was such an advocate of start ups and enterprise," said Mr Johal. "He led many initiatives during his time at Sandwell Council such as preferential rental rates for start-up's in specially designed incubator units. I am sure that he would be proud of the legacy he left for encouraging individuals to set up their businesses."
"The Black Country in particular is beginning to pick up and we are pleased that it is now regarded as the second highest performing LEP area in the country," said Mr Johal, who is the immediate past president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
"With successful automotive and aerospace sectors experiencing continual growth and start up's continuing to accelerate, there is a definite lift in confidence in the region. But there is much to be done with regards to skills and infrastructure and we must continue to press our businesses to widen their scope to overseas markets.
"But for a region to flourish, there needs to be steady birth of new businesses and we need to continue to put our front foot forward in terms of encouraging the very important SME space. This Darren Cooper start-up award emphasizes this importance."
The Signature Awards seek to celebrate and highlight the importance of the Asian business community in the region.
He added: "The awards seek to celebrate and highlight the ever increasing importance of the Asian business community and its great contribution to the local, regional and national economy. The profile of the awards is increasing year on year."
"We feel it is important that the Black Country and the wider region needs to celebrate its achievements and in the current climate it is easy to forget the contributions of businesses in the area. From start up's to established employers in the area, the Black Country and the wider region has much to boast about.
"The awards dinner is the ideal platform to show the region and the country the best that there is in the Black Country and the wider region."
Award categories include Business Start-up, Entrepreneur of the year, Community Excellence, Regeneration, International Trade/Enterprise, Business Woman of the year, Hospitality Business of the year, and Business Person of the Year.
Sponsors for the event include Qatar Airways, Intu ( operator of Merry Hill shopping centre),Vision Print, Divya Group, Wolverhampton University, Cobra Beer, East End foods, Hollywood Monster, Pathway Group,FMBC Solicitors, Akaal. Com, Birmingham City University, and HRA loudspeakers.
The glitzy awards dinner is due to take place on July 15 at the Wolverhampton Racecourse – For further information contact Nachural on 0121 526 3141 or ninder.johal@nachural.co.uk
