A young entrepreneur from Drumchapel in Glasgow, who refused to take no for an answer, was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) awards ceremony this week.
Date:
Fri, 18 Nov 2011
Source:
PSYBT
PSYBT:
Website
Patrick McDonald (20), founder of Superior Catering & Leisure, beat off competition from hundreds of PSYBT-backed businesses from all over Scotland which were eligible for this year’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year’Award, held at Glasgow City Chambers.
Just 18 years old when he decided he wanted to be an entrepreneur, Patrick was working for a local catering van and made it his goal to learn everything he could about the business.
He spent months researching the industry and networking with other business owners, suppliers and event organisers to establish a database of useful contacts that he knew he would one day need to start his own mobile catering business.
Patrick frequently encountered resistance from people who found it difficult to believe that someone in their teens could take on such an ambitious project. He was even turned away by lenders who told him he was too young to go into business.
But the plucky teenager remained undeterred and, at the start of last year, a meeting with Glasgow's Regeneration Agency led to a referral to PSYBT for funding and business support.
Today, McDonald employs seven staff at busy times and runs a highly profitable business, which caters at many prestigious events throughout the UK, including music festivals, horse shows, country fairs and gala days.
His plans for next year mean he will have several other mobile units to allow the business to continue its steady growth.
The awards ceremony, which is now in its sixteenth year, was attended by nearly 300 members of the business community and Michelle Mone OBE, co-owner of MJM International and creator of Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand, who gave the keynote speech.
Mone herself is a recipient of start-up funding from the charity when she launched in 1997 and now serves on the board of directors.
Presenting the winners with their awards and cheques for £2000 and £1500, Michelle Mone said: "All our finalists have shown determination, ambition and fortitude to succeed in business, no matter what challenges they face.
"Self-belief is another import ingredient for business success and our winner tonight has proved that too, making him an outstanding entrepreneur and a worthy winner of this fantastic award."
Mark Strudwick, chief executive of the PSYBT, said: "We congratulate our winners on their success tonight - they are shining examples to other young people and we wish them well with their future endeavours."
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