Eden Valley Messenger

DAVID GOES THROUGH TO NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS

DAVID Thornley, a self-employed business consultant from Penrith, has won the Young Enterprise Business Adviser of the Year nomination for the North West region – and goes forward to the national awards held in London next Tuesday, July 7.

The North West award is supported by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and was presented at Aintree Racecourse by ICAEW Regional Director for the North West, Mark Hale.

The YE Business Adviser of the Year award recognises the skills, time and understanding which volunteers bring to their involvement with schools and colleges.

David won his award for providing business advice to students at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith for their company, Lakes Accessories, which produces a range of hand-decorated, special occasion and bespoke greetings cards, manufactured through recycling donated materials

The students involved in Lakes Accessories said that David’s advice had a really positive effect on their company.

Student Managing Director of Lakes Accessories Kate Robinson said: “In particular, David gave us the determination and courage to re-think a fundamental change in what positions people held in the company when it looked as though we might go under from lack of direction and focus. From that moment, we never looked back. Meetings now work really well, everyone is happy in their new roles and there is a good team spirit.”

David said: “I have really enjoyed working with the students who run Lakes Accessories – To them and their Link Teacher a very sincere thank-you for the nomination and I am very proud to have received this award.

“In the 13-plus years I have been involved as an adviser - with some time spent on the local area board and chair of board - it never ceases to amaze me how these “young students” come up with novel and innovative ideas, persevere through adversity, achieve so much in such a short time with all the increasing pressures of examinations, extra curricular activities and usually holding down a part-time job etc to mature and develop into responsible adults.

“I am a firm believer in Young Enterprise and that all the students who participate will have a significant advantage in their future careers and particularly in the early years when their CV’s will stand out from the crowd.”

For Young Enterprise, North West Region Chief Executive, Matt Stevenson-Dodd commented:

“I am absolutely delighted that David has been recognised by the young people who have benefited from his tireless support during their participation in the Young Enterprise Company Programme. We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers for the work that they undertake in supporting the delivery of YE Programmes and we thank ICAEW for enabling us to recognise David’s outstanding contribution through this prestigious award.”

For the ICAEW, Regional Director (North West) Mark Hale said: “David really deserves this regional award. He has obviously inspired great confidence in the Lakes Accessories team and support from business figures like David is vital in encouraging entrepreneurs amongst the young people in our region. The Institute of Chartered Accountants is fully committed to its support of Young Enterprise.”

David will now go forward with the nine other regional winners for the national Young Enterprise Business Advisor award to be presented at the ICAEW Young Enterprise Celebration Awards by the Institute at the Park Lane Hotel in Piccadilly, London on July 7.

CAPTION

DAVID thornley with some of the Young enterprise students at QEGS he has been working with. 

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