Inspirational entrepreneurs get the gongs

Enterprise is one of the most important achievements that is recognised with Queen’s honours like an MBE or OBE.

Creating jobs and supporting economic issues, overcoming challenges and demonstrating endless reserves of determination makes a great nomination, and these often prove irresistible to the honours committees.

The most recent honours list yet again featured the names of many individuals who epitimise these traits. To give you an idea of what a person needs to do to receive an honour, let’s have a look at some notable examples. There are a few names that may be familiar:

The founder of Mind Candy, Michael Acton-Smith was awarded an OBE. Michael (pictured above), founded Mind Candy over a decade ago, and it is now one of the world’s fastest growing social online gaming companies. Michael is the brains behind the adopt-a-pet-monster online game, Moshi Monsters, which now has a staggering 80 million registered users worldwide.

There was also an OBE for Priya Lakhani, the founder of Masala Masala, which produces a range of Indian sauces and ready-to-cook meals for many leading supermarkets. Alongside her business, Priya also founded a charity, the Masala Masala Project, which provides a hot meal to a homeless person in India for every pot of her sauces sold. 

For supporting young entrepreneurs, Michael Hayman, the founder of StartUp Britain received an MBE. And for her work promoting entrepreneurship in social and digital development, the Founder of Ecademy, Penny Power, received an OBE.

Twin sisters Lisa and Helen Tse, who set up Manchester’s Sweet Mandarin restaurant a decade ago, both received MBEs. The pair, originally from Oldham, famously received backing from Duncan Bannatyne through Dragon’s Den. Under their leadership, Sweet Mandarin has grown beyond the confines of their premises, and the pair have developed a successful range of sauces that are exported all over the world.

Is there an entrepreneur you would like to nominate? Contact us today for a free, informal assessment of your chances of success.