Issue date: 30 October 2007
A young entrepreneur has been given a real taste for success by winning the University of the West of England Enterprise Award at The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success ceremony in Bristol.
Claire Foster, 27, was nominated for setting up Superjuice, a mobile juice and smoothie bar in Taunton. After 12 months of struggling unsuccessfully to find work, she approached The Prince's Trust for help with achieving her ambition to run her own business and received a grant which helped her open Superjuice in late 2005.
In just two years, Claire has boosted its range to include hot juices, porridge and home made soups. Her funky, bright green mobile unit has become a landmark in Taunton town centre and she is now seeking new locations so that she can expand the business.
Claire said: “I'm thrilled to have won the award, although I really didn't expect to. Two years ago I was unemployed and the future looked bleak. Starting my own business has changed everything and receiving this award makes all the hard work worthwhile. Success is sweet!”
Claire was among the young people, volunteers and partner organisations from across the South West honoured in a total of eight categories at The Celebrate Success Awards in Bristol on 26 October.
She was presented with the UWE Enterprise Award at the Oscar-style ceremony by Professor Stephen Hagen, Director of Research, Business and Innovation at UWE. He said, “The efforts of all of the finalists in the Enterprise Award are highly commendable and an inspiration to all of us. UWE wishes Claire every success and we look forward to supporting her in her next stage.”
The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards honour the achievements of disadvantaged young people supported by The Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. All the finalists have been selected from the 2,800 young people supported by The Trust in the South West over the past year. The dedicated support provided by Prince's Trust partner organisations, volunteers and staff throughout the South West was also recognised at the ceremony.
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives in the UK. Working with 14 to 30-year-olds who have either struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law, it gives practical and financial support and helps develop skills, as well as confidence and motivation.
Since the charity was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976, it has helped over 550,000 young people across the UK and continues to support 100 more every day.
Ends
Notes to editors
• For more information on UWE's Research, Business and Innovation activities visit
http://www.uwe.ac.uk
• Further information about The Prince's Trust is available at
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk or calling 0800 842 842.
• The Celebrate Success Awards in the South West are part of a series of award ceremonies taking place across the UK this autumn. The winners will be put forward as nominees in the national Prince's Trust and RBS Celebrate Success Awards finals, which take place in London in spring 2008.
• The Prince's Trust Business Start-Up Programme helps unemployed 18-30 year olds start their own businesses by offering low interest loans to those that have no other means of raising the capital. The Prince's Trust also provides continued support for the first three years of trading, endeavouring to match each young person with a volunteer business mentor who provided regular guidance. Since The Trust founded its Business Programme in 1983, it has helped more than 66,000 young people start up in business.
Share
Share