AE Direct Mail Scoops 2008 Kickstart Award

11th April 2008

Direct Mail company AE Direct Mail has won the 2008 Kickstart Awards run by Merseyside Special Investment Fund and the Liverpool ECHO.

 

The Aintree-based business which is run by husband and wife team Andrew and Elis Evers, scooped the £10k cash prize and up to £10k* consultancy at the Awards bash which took place at the new Hard Day’s Night Hotel.

 

Liverpool entrepreneur Steve Morgan – founder of building giant Redrow presented the award to managing director Andrew Evers.

Mr Morgan said: “These awards, with the encouragement of the ECHO and MSIF, have done fantastically well in generating almost 2,700 jobs.  It is great to see the old city coming back to life. Why? It is down to the entrepreneurial spirit.”

Mr Evers said: “This is a great surprise.  I have always wanted to run my own business and we are now one of the market leaders in the North and well-known throughout the UK. “

Andrew and Elise Evers left established careers in Yorkshire to buy the loss making firm in 2003, saving 53 jobs.

They soon grew the customer base from 25 to 200 and now mail 100 million items a year.  The company employs 90 staff with plans to boost that to 115 over the next three years.

 

The £10k cash prize will go towards replacing their 30 year old lighting system with a low energy alternative, improving working conditions and cutting energy costs by 35%.

Runners up were Fabs 4 and The Junior Chefs’ Academy. Fabs 4 is a St Helens-based stainless steel fabrication company working in the commercial kitchens sector. The company was formed by four workmates who left their jobs to set up the business which now employs 32 staff.

 

The Junior Chefs’ Academy was set up by husband and wife team Paul and Sue Cooper to deliver healthy eating cookery workshops to primary school children.  The company is endorsed by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.

An Outstanding Achievement Award went to Wavertree-based Senator Communications which provides a 24/7 year round inbound and outbound telemarketing service.  It overcame the threat of closure in 2006 to recently win over £1m of new business and now has plans to target new markets overseas.  The company employs 97 full time staff and 101 part time staff.

Finally, Dolphin Music were awarded Best Performing Business.  The company was set up by two Liverpool University students Rob Williams and Jason Tavaria using their student loans to fund starting the business.  The Speke-based company now employs 62 staff and has a turnover of more than £9m.

Mark Fuller, managing director of MSIF’s fund manager said:  “We were absolutely thrilled with the quality and diversity of the businesses who have contacted us throughout the five year campaign.  All entrants here tonight and all of the businesses which have entered Kickstart throughout the campaign deserve huge congratulations for their achievements.

 

ECHO editor, Alistair Machray said: “The ECHO is proud to recognise your contribution and is highly grateful to MSIF for working so hard to keep our businesses on the right track.  But most of all,  thank you for flying the flag for Merseyside and contributing to the rebirth of our fantastic city.”

Previous Kickstart competitions have been endorsed by the former Prime Minister Tony Blair, entrepreneur Richard Branson, easyjet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Liverpool-born Sir Terry Leahy.  This year, Dragon’s Den TV star James Caan praised Kickstart and winners AE Direct Mail.  He said: “I am delighted to join in the congratulations to Andrew and Elise.  To leave good jobs, buy a loss-making company and turn it into a successful venture takes a lot of courage and determination.

 

“I would also like to applaud the ECHO and MSIF for promoting entrepreneurship and business acumen in a city that has long been known for its creativity and vibrancy”

“Aiming to create 2,008 jobs by 2008 and exceeding that target is a wonderful thing to have done.

Ends

*To be supplied at MSIF’s discretion via its consultancy programme.

Kickstart was created by MSIF and the ECHO in 2003 when Liverpool won Capital of Culture status.  It aimed to encourage people to start their own business or help existing firms expand and create 2,008 jobs by 2008. This target was smashed with the creation of 2,685 new jobs since the competition began.

Ends

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Photo shows Alistair Machray, Mark Fuller and Steve Morgan presenting Andrew Evers with his Award together with other winners.

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