Local Entrepreneur Scoops Top Prize In Enterprise Challenge
A young female entrepreneur has claimed the first prize in the final of flare, the University of Hertfordshire’s prestigious annual Enterprise Ideas Challenge.
About the winner
The 26 year-old humanities graduate from St. Albans was presented with the coveted title of ‘flare, Entrepreneur of the Year 2012’ and awarded a prize of £10,000 cash in recognition of her entrepreneurial approach to her business ‘Heaven is a cupcake’.
Lucy launched the bespoke cupcake company in 2010 after graduating from the University. In the same year she won the ‘Local Gem’ title in the St. Albans Food and Drink Awards.
On winning flare, Lucy, who already has strong business links with retail giant, Tesco said: “'I couldn't be happier. This is great recognition of Heaven is a Cupcake and the work I have put into it to make it a success. The prize will really help to further the business.
There will be lots of exciting changes coming and it's all thanks to flare and the University. I've worked incredibly hard over the last six months of the competition and when they said my name I just couldn't believe it; I think it is still sinking in. I can't wait to see what the future holds.”
About the prize
Lucy was presented with her £10,000 cheque at the flare awards ceremony on Friday. She will also receive office space in the University’s Enterprise Incubation Centre, mentoring with Exemplas and a year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Julie Newlan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise and Director of Marketing and Communications said: “There is a real need for entrepreneurial thinking and activity to support and grow our economy and the University’s flare competition is committed to driving this.
The standard of this year’s competition has been nothing short of exceptional and Lucy is a deserved winner. She should be extremely proud of her achievement and I have no doubt that she will go on to do great things with this investment.”
About the flare competition
The flare competition has been running for the past seven years and gives University of Hertfordshire students and graduates the opportunity and support to boost their business ideas and grow their start-up companies.
178 people entered this year’s competition before being shortlisted to eight finalists. The eight finalists were then made to pitch their ideas to local business experts David Brown from Santander, Martin Carr from Exemplas and Dan Kendall owner of SanGen Systems. The finalists were also judged by entrepreneurial alums from the University Tim Parfitt and Prital Moskal.