Local Business Woman shortlisted in Great British Entrepreneur Awards

by | Oct 26, 2016 | Dartford Business, Dartford News

Over 100 Great British Entrepreneurs Announced as Finalists in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Over 100 entrepreneurs have been announced as the Finalists in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in association with NatWest.

Nicola Coppen from Diligence (PM) Services Ltd (known as ‘Diligence’) has been announced as a shortlisted entrepreneur within the Micro Business Entrepreneur of the Year category for 2016.

Nicola started Diligence in April 2014, with the first contract being for the provision of Infrastructure Project Management for Thames Water – an early milestone for the company and in April 2016, she decided the time was right to begin expansion for the company into a larger consultancy.

Diligence is a people-led consultancy, providing proven Project Managers, incorporating the need to encourage local employment and develop Project Managers of the future.  As a word synonymous with Nicola’s aptitude, given to her by those she worked with, ‘Diligence’ was the obvious company name and therefore we have to consider ‘diligence’ in all we do.

Nicola’s aspiration is to provide Project Management to the various Construction and Infrastructure projects in the southeast and London, employing more Project Managers to deliver the high profile projects in our pipeline.  Our employees will be a mix of experienced people, supported by younger trainees and apprentices (as a business mentor to a local Academy, Nicola is well placed to find our future Project Managers).  Their success will be rewarded when the business becomes an Employee Owned Business.

Regarded as the benchmark for entrepreneurial success in the UK, the Awards celebrate the contributions and innovations of British entrepreneurs and their impact on the economy.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards will culminate at the Gala Final, taking place on Tuesday 22 November in the Ballrooms of the prestigious, Lancaster London Hotel.

Celebrating entrepreneurs who embody a spirit of disruption, innovation and enterprise, the Awards will recognise business leaders from multiple industries across the 20 awards categories.

Previous winners have included Julie Deane MBE, founder of the Cambridge Satchel Company, James Watt, co-founder of Brewdog and Alexander Solomou, founder of Lad Bible.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards is all about celebrating the wonderful stories that entrepreneurs have, and helping them on their journey to success.

Nick James, Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “This year we have yet again enjoyed an increase in the amount of entries for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and every single category is fiercely contested. There is no doubt that Entrepreneurialism is alive and well in the UK despite any uncertainty over Brexit.”

Gordon Merrylees, Head of Entrepreneurship for NatWest, said:

“Entrepreneurs are the wealth creators and the lifeblood of the UK economy. It’s incredibly important that we support them, throughout their journey with access to finance and networks; relevant mentors, general business advice and knowledge, all vital ingredients whether they are start up’s, early stage or high growth ventures. The standard of this years awards’ finalists shows just how much talent there is to support in the UK.”

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