Twelve-year-old entrepreneur among winners at the second annual Yorkshire Black Enterprise Convention

28 October 2008
By Nigel Scott

BUDDING Yorkshire entrepreneur Akili Ta Seti, who is just 12-years-old, was among the winners honoured at the 2008 Yorkshire Black Enterprise Convention (YBEC) in Leeds.
Akili won The Future of Enterprise Award at the event which aims to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of successful entrepreneurs from the African and Caribbean communities across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The convention, which is supported by Business Link Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward, was held at Leeds United Conference Centre and the keynote speaker was Olympic medalist, Kriss Akabusi.

Akili, from Bradford, impressed the judges with her business acumen.
Alongside her school work, she finds time to run Wisdom Enterprises which provides computer skills to people of all ages, including free introductory sessions for elderly people.

The company also offers a range of printing services as well as web and graphic design.

Rad Miller, who works for Leeds-based Pocket Projects, a creative youth media production company, took the Creative Business Award.

Pocket provides video, music and audio educational workshops and one off film/dvd/music and audio commissions for the youth sector.

Business Personality of the Year was Johnny Flowers, who arrived in England in 1961. Since then, he has worked voluntarily to improve the welfare of the Caribbean community in Yorkshire.

In 1976 he founded Ashbrow Garage, in Huddersfield, and, over the past 30 years, the business has flourished.

Female Entrepreneur of the Year was Marcia Hutchinson who runs Huddersfield-based Primary Colours, a publishing and learning development company dedicated to creating a better world for children.

Restaurant

Male Entrepreneur of the Year was Barrington Douglas who runs Discovery Bay, an award winning Huddersfield Caribbean restaurant and outside catering service.

Byron Francis from the Manningham Mills Sports and Community Association won the Enterprise in the Community Award in recognition of his work for the registered charity which encourages and supports education, sports health and social activities.

Rowland Egege and Bobby Singh, from Pro Active Sports (UK), took the judges award for Young Entrepreneur. Their Bradford-based organisation aims to reduce health inequalities by offering sports sessions that fit around school times.

Spokesman for the judging panel, Andy Kemp, said: "This year's entries graphically demonstrate the impressive rise of the region's black entrepreneurs and that black businesses no longer exist in just a few niche markets.

"The black business community is playing an increasingly important role in providing jobs and contributing to the local economy."

Source: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business-news/Twelveyearold-entrepreneur-among-winners-at.4634693.jp