Bath entrepreneurs and the city’s popular annual Carnival are among shortlisted entries for a major new awards scheme celebrating the West of England’s inspirational small businesses.
The Enterprising West of England ‘Ones to Watch’ awards 2020 take place next week to champion the region’s most exciting entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs. 
Some 27 outstanding individuals and firms are going head to head in nine categories aimed at finding the best small businesses across Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, as well as the region’s most promising BAME, young and female entrepreneurs.
Bath Carnival, the city’s biggest community project and the organisation behind the popular Party in the Park at Sydney Gardens and Fiesta at The Rec, is competing for the Contribution to Place award against Freelance Mum, the group that supports, promotes and connects mothers who work as freelancers across the South West, and Weston-super-Mare PRIDE.
The category celebrates the contribution of businesses that put back into the community.
Vying for the Young Person in Business title is Ricki Ghali of Cookie Dough. Based in Peasedown St John, Ricki co-founded the business after spotting a gap in the market for freshly baked cookie dough shops.
Farayi Gwenzi, Bath-based director of Divine Healthcare Solutions, is in the three-strong shortlist for the BAME Business Leader award. Farayi has extensive experience in health and social care industry.
There are also separate categories for businesses and entrepreneurs based in each of the local authorities making up the West of England – Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
Lining up for the Bath & North East Somerset trophy are 101 Data Solutions, data management specialist based in Paulton, Bath-based online mail order firm Novel Wines, and employment consultancy Circle Consulting Group, also based in Bath.
101 Data director Brett Edgecombe said: “We are so very pleased to be recognised by Enterprising West of England in conjunction with Bath & North East Somerset council. To get shortlisted among such innovative organisations is really an achievement for 101 Data Solutions.”
The Enterprising West of England ‘Ones to Watch’ awards 2020 will be presented next Wednesday (January 29) at the Bristol Old Vic.
Cassie Yates, project manager for Enterprising West of England – the event’s organiser – said:
“Since 2017, the Enterprising West of England programme has delivered first-class business support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the region.
“For many budding entrepreneurs and business owners in the West of England, we are their first port of call when trying to get a venture off the ground. This puts us in a unique position to be able to talent spot some of the West of England’s rising stars, who these awards are designed showcase and celebrate.”
Bath Business News will carry full details of the winners next week.
