Director of Engine Shed, Nick Sturge MBE, has been named Business Leader of the Year at the 2019 South West Business Leader Awards on 26 September 2019.
Now in its seventh year, the Awards, which celebrate business success and enterprise, were hosted by Michael Portillo and attended by over 550 senior business leaders.
Judges included Veronica Hope-Hailey, Vice President of the University of Bath, Greg LeTocq, Co-founder of Vouchercloud and Peaches Golding, Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol.
Nick was nominated for the inaugural Business Leader of the Year award alongside three other nominees, including SETsquared Bristol’s Director, Monika Radclyffe.
Andrew Scott, founder of the Business Leader Awards, commented: “For 2019 we introduced a new category called Business Leader of the Year as we wanted to honour an individual that had made a positive impact to business in the region; and also the community. To win this award is a major honour as it is aimed at the elite of the business world and those who are creating a legacy.”
The judges said:
“This award was looking for a titan of the business world. Nick stood out for the following reasons. His ability to inspire current and future generations of business people and entrepreneurs; his ability to bring together both public and private sector for the good of the community; his work to promote the region both nationally and globally; and his visionary approach to business, which also demonstrated a modern way of thinking around the triple line of profits, people and planet. Nick has also consistently invested time outside of his main role to engage in community and business activity that has contributed positively to the region.”
Commenting on his award, Nick said: “I’m truly honoured and humbled to receive this, in what has been a momentous year for me. I am immensely grateful, not only to the judges, but to the University of Bristol for providing me with the platform with which to support exciting technology entrepreneurs and develop Engine Shed as a platform for inclusive growth. I’ve also worked with the ethos of giving forward – if you’re generous with your time, you will reap the reward in the long term – one way or another.”