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Young entrepreneurs will now have the chance to prove their green credentials with the launch of a new award within the BT Scotland Young E-ntrepreneurs programme.

This year the BT Scotland Young E-ntrepreneurs awards, which are organised through the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT), will recognise the Best Environmentally Responsible Business, as well as the existing awards for Most Visionary Business, Best Website and Best use of E-Commerce.

In addition to the new award, BT Scotland is increasing its investment in the programme to £55,000 for the year, which will help PSYBT with the set up costs of approximately 15 businesses across Scotland over the next twelve months.

To date, BT Scotland has invested more than £300,000 in the programme, helping around 125 young people develop and grow their own businesses.  One previous BT Scotland Young

E-ntrepreneur recipient and former awards winner who is already running an environmentally responsible business is 28 year old Nick Lobnitz from Carry Freedom in Ayrshire, which supplies lightweight innovative bicycle trailers.

Nick set up his company in 2004 with the help of a loan from PSYBT funded through the BT Scotland scheme. Since then, he has gone on to secure distribution partners in all target countries and has developed new products including budget and bamboo trailers for bicycles. This year, he is launching his first bicycle, an urban utility bike that will be maintenance free.

Commenting on his continued support from BT Scotland and PSYBT, Nick said: “With their support I have been able to market my products more widely to a mainstream audience which would otherwise have taken much longer to achieve. We have significantly expanded our business in terms of product development and selling to new territories and we are now the primary trailer supplier for the Royal Mail which is helping us do business with the Norwegian, Swedish and French postal services.

“For us, being environmentally responsible is at the heart of what we do as a business. Our product itself is all about travelling without a car and we constantly aim to reduce our own carbon footprint by minimising our resources, using suppliers who share our environmental values and continuously reviewing the way in which we work and how we manufacture our products. I think it is our responsibility, as a successful and sustainable business, to consider the environment in every aspect of what we do.”

BT Scotland’s head of communication Alan Bonas said: “Our work with the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust is one of the most rewarding of our long-term partnerships. It is a  genuine privilege to work with the young recipients who stand out for their enthusiasm, dynamism, creativity and sheer hard work.

“Over the years the initiative has moved with the times and while we will continue to recognise great use of e-commerce among our fledgling businesses we have noticed a growing interest in ethical and sustainable practices. This is very much in line with BT’s thinking and we felt the time was right to introduce the new award.”

Mark Strudwick, Chief Executive of PSYBT, added: “We are delighted to announce the continued and increased support from BT. Through them we have been able to support many young talented people to take their first steps towards self employment who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to work for themselves. These entrepreneurs are at the heart of our economy and it is through them we are continuing to see Scotland prosper.

Ends  

Issued on behalf by Jen Nash, Panache Communications tel. 07971 466 220 Email Jen@panachecommunications.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Further information: BT Scotland press office: 0800 085 0660 or Margaret Gibson of PSYBT on 0141 248 4999. You can also email margaret.gibson@psybt.org.uk or check out the PSYBT website at www.psybt.org.uk.