Barclays celebrates business heroes at 'Trading Places' Awards 2010
30 November 2010

Barclays Bank Plc last night celebrated the success stories of British businesses, founded by heroic individuals who have triumphed over adversity in setting up their ventures, at the Trading Places Awards 2010. Held at the newly-refurbished, swanky Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday 30th November 2010, the winner of the Barclays Trading Places Award 2010 was Richard Cartwright, founder of specialist bookseller Newcastle Books. John Charles who founded Catering2Order was named as the runner-up and Andrew Kent of Andy's Kars was recognised with the new Community Award 2010. The valuable cash prize money, courtesy of Barclays, is £10,000 to the winner's business, plus £5,000 to the runner-up and £3, 500 for the community award winner. This is boosted by special tailor-made packages for all the short-listed nominees from two of the sponsor companies, Microsoft and Yell.

Hosted by TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, the awards dinner was attended by previous winners, members of parliament, local councillors, businessmen and women and a host of celebrities including TV presenter Vanessa Feltz, chef Aldo Zilli, former footballer Osvaldo Ardiles, model Caprice Bouret, TV dragon Theo Paphitis and founder of 'The Big Issue' John Bird. Guests were entertained with a live song set by Mica Paris.

Barclays Trading Places Awards 2010 Winners

Winner: Richard John Cartwright
Newcastle Books, Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear)

Richard Cartwright was a Big Issue seller in Newcastle, with a love of reading. So it's not surprising he used his profits to buy books, sourced from local charity shops and library sales. Richard quickly realised there was a good market for second-hand books and decided to build his own computer so he could sell them online.

Business boomed - but Richard was fast running out of space at his small council flat. He decided to take the plunge and lease a warehouse. Today, Newcastle Books has over 140,000 titles, with 27,000 listed online. Richard also employs four local residents, who are helping him to successfully expand the business.

Runner-Up: John Charles
Catering2Order, Southwark (London)

When John Charles complained to doctors about his severe headaches, little did he realise that seven months later he would be a registered blind person - cause unknown. But John was determined to get to grips with his new condition. He developed a business plan for a catering company and went on to launch Catering2Order. The business is run as a social enterprise, funding its own work placement scheme for people with disabilities and those from socially deprived communities. John's clients include the Olympic Delivery Authority, supplying onsite catering to the Olympic construction site in East London.

Community Award Winner: Andrew Kent
Andy's Kars, Bar Hill (Cambridge)

Andy Kent has battled ill health since leaving school at 14 barely able to read or write. After a near fatal stroke, he decided to use his recovery time to gain GCSE passes. Afterwards, Andy - a qualified motor mechanic - decided to set up his own garage. He re-mortgaged his home and with the support of his wife Jan, Andy's Kars opened for business.

Andy has been determined to use his skills and experience to benefit others like him. He has made it his policy to employ disabled and disadvantaged people, providing them with the opportunities he lacked.

Barclays Trading Places Awards 2010 Finalists

Finalist: Tom Dowling
All Together Now!, Liverpool (Merseyside)

As a young man, Tom Dowling was attacked by armed robbers on the roadside in Iran. The bullet that ripped through Tom's back left him permanently paralysed and in a wheelchair. Tom was a reporter on the Liverpool Echo and had the idea for a column that would address disability issues. It proved a huge success and grew into a regular supplement.

But Tom felt there was even more potential and decided to set up his own publishing business offering a bi-monthly and online magazine, covering health and disability issues. Today, 60,000 copies of All Together Now! are regularly distributed to more than 400 outlets across the North West.

Finalist: Gina Moffatt
Blooming Scent, Haringey (London)

When Gina Moffatt found herself serving a prison sentence, the young mum of two quickly realised her life needed to change.

After studying for an NVQ in floristry, Gina persuaded the Holloway authorities to let her open a shop inside the prison. It proved hugely popular - with prisoners, wardens and visitors becoming regular customers. On her release, Gina used her skills to launch Blooming Scent. Now she provides flowers and floral decorations for both individuals and corporate events and has recently become the sole contractor for the Bernie Grant Centre in Haringey.

Finalist: Daniel Twiddy
Dan Twiddy Plastering, Stamford (Lincolnshire)

Daniel Twiddy was serving in Basra, when his Challenger tank became involved in a friendly fire incident. The first round blew Dan out of his vehicle, setting him on fire, and he sustained major shrapnel injuries to his face and body. Dan was flown directly to hospital in the UK and remained on a life support machine for many weeks. But he fought back. After a long recovery, he decided to train as a plasterer and in 2006, started Dan Twiddy Plastering.

It has taken Dan three years to build the business - but today he and his family look forward to a bright future.

Finalist: Duane Jackson
KashFlow Software, Southwark (London)

Duane Jackson had a troubled childhood that eventually led to a prison sentence. Duane was interested in computers and began teaching IT skills to other inmates. On his release, he had no home, no money and no qualifications. Undaunted, Duane set himself up as a one-man business offering web development services. However, he found the lack of understandable accounting software a problem. Unable to find an easy-to-use software package, Duane set about writing his own - and KashFlow Software was born.

Today, Duane has over 7,000 customers and a business valued in excess of £10 million.

Finalist: Mike Laver
Mike Laver, Cabinet Maker, Wimborne (Dorset)

Mike Laver commanded British helicopter forces in Iraq. But his career as a pilot came to an end when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Mike's future looked bleak but he was determined to view his new situation as an opportunity. He decided to put his interest in furniture to good use and enrolled on a two-year course to become a self-employed cabinet maker. Today, Mike produces individual pieces of furniture with heirloom quality.

But the former airman still relishes a challenge. Mike has also started Monster Ski, an extreme sporting event to help raise funds to fight Multiple Sclerosis.

Finalist: Inayah Sher
Inayah's Quest, Bradford (West Yorkshire)

Inayah Sher was born and raised into a strict Muslim family. At the age of five she was contractually locked into a marriage. On her 14th birthday in Bradford, she was forced to live with the husband. As she became older, Inayah increasingly challenged her family's traditional customs, which she believed left women bereft of autonomy and a career.

Inayah was determined her daughter would have greater freedom - but that depended on her achieving independence. She decided to start up a business specialising in natural skin care products that also teaches others how to make their own nature-friendly preparations.

Finalist: Karina Hesketh
Karina's Bags, Heaton (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Karina Hesketh had a successful career in fashion but three events changed her life. Her marriage broke down, her son was born with Epilepsy, and she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Karina struggled to support her two children whilst living on disability benefit. But she remained passionate about fashion and when a friend asked her to make a special bag for a wedding, she readily agreed. It was an instant success and inspired Karina to launch her own label, selling unique limited edition designs from her website to customers throughout the world.

The Barclays Trading Places Awards 2010 Judging Panel

Steve Cooper, Managing Director Barclays Business, Barclays Bank PLC
Robert Epstein, Head of Small Medium Business, Microsoft UK
Steve Hawkes, Business Editor, The Sun
Sophie Beesley, Head of National Business Programme, The Prince's Trust
George Derbyshire, Chief Executive, National Federation of Enterprise Agencies
Lopa Patel, Founder of Redhotcurry.com
Bernie Morgan, Chief Executive, cdfa
Helen Stevenson, Chief Marketing Officer, Yell
Micky Walsh, Director of Client Services, Crisis
Laurie South, Chief Executive, PRIME
Jane Fletcher, Director for Innovative Projects, Leonard Cheshire Disability