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BEDFORD'S BUDDING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AMONGST THE UK’S BEST - [05-06-2007]

Local young entrepreneurs Lisa & Rick Sanderson of Bedford’s online Farmers Market Buy-Local.net made the final 4 of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition last week.

The East of England Gala final was held in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The competition recognises and celebrates the achievements of the UK’s finest young entrepreneurs, and Buy-Local.net were finalists in the programme’s 25th year.
Buy-Local.net was eventual runners-up to ‘Hannah Marshall’, an up and coming UK fashion designer and one of last year’s UK finalists. Despite some stiff competition, Rick and Lisa were thrilled to have come so close to winning from over 900 companies nationwide.

Commenting on their success, Lisa said, “The whole experience of receiving a Shell LiveWire Award is fantastic recognition for the work we have done to develop the business over the last year, and for the future of Buy-Local.net. It’s great that a company like Shell recognise that we have a unique product amongst some very strong competition.”

Each finalist’s business plan was scrutinised by an expert panel of judges, who agreed that Buy-Local.net is “An excellent and well researched sustainable business model with a genuine and positive social impact”.

James Smith, Chairman of Shell UK Limited, said: “Shell UK continues to support the Shell Livewire Awards because we recognise the importance of small, innovative companies in stimulating UK enterprise. I wish them well for the future.”

Commenting on their plans for the future, Rick said “This is just the start of what we hope will be a fruitful 12 months for us. Having recently also been awarded with the Farmers Weekly Food Miles Hero Award, and currently on the short-list for the regional finals of UKTV’s Local Food Hero’s 2007, we feel the public are really behind our cause of supporting local suppliers of quality produce. Next on the agenda is the safe arrival of our first child in September, another challenge we are looking forward to!”

To find out for yourself what all the fuss is about, log on to www.buy-local.net or telephone Lisa & Rick on 01234 302325.

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