Young businessman up for top entrepreneurial accolade
Newport businessman James Norvill will be competing against the cream of British entrepreneurial talent this week when he attends the final of the prestigious British Chambers of Commerce awards.
James Norvill, director of waste management firm GD Environmental, will be battling it out against winners from seven other regions to win the title of Entrepreneur of the Year at the national final, to be held at the Old Royal Naval College in London on 23 November.
James went through to the final after winning the Welsh heat, where he beat off competition from companies nominated by chambers across Wales to be crowned British Chambers of Commerce Welsh Entrepreneur of the Year in October this year.
James set up GD Environmental in 2003 when he was aged just 23 and has seen its turnover grow rapidly from £570,000 to a projected £2.4m for this year. The firm now operates in a highly competitive market across the UK and Europe, offering specialist services such as hazardous waste treatment and asbestos disposal.
The award recognises the central part James played in building key areas of the business, including breaking into the competitive skip market and taking a proactive move into recycling, while maintaining high standards of service quality.
James said: “It was a real honour to be considered for the Welsh regional award, but to win it and then go on to the national final really reflects what a great year it has been not only for me but the company as a whole. My aim is to make GD Environmental the first port of call for waste requirements, and to win an award like this one will help to make that vision a reality.”
At the finals in London, James will compete against other regional winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from seven companies across the UK ranging from a public house chain and a freight transport provider, to a farmhouse dessert maker.
Also up for grabs will be a prize of £25,000, given to the company winning the Award for Outstanding Business Achievement, judged from winners in each of the seven award categories at the ceremony.
This year GD Environmental received an award from the Newport & Gwent Chamber of Commerce (ngb2b) for Most Promising New Business. It also appeared in the Western Mail’s Hot 100 List of Wales’ top 100 new businesses in 2006.
