Viv Hargreaves

Editor's Blog

Countdown to success at awards night

TONIGHT sees Dean businesses of all sizes and from every sector celebrate their success at The Forester Business Awards 2012.
Now in its third year, the awards night has attracted more entries than ever before, from a wider range of companies.
A new category for Apprentice of the Year has been introduced reflecting the growing need for job opportunities for the young.
A total of 13 winners and 13 runners-up will receive their trophies and certificates at the Forest Hills Golf Club before an audience of 200.
The categories include individual awards for best business person, best young business person, as well as tourism, green and family-run businesses.
Despite the economic gloom we have seen a number of local entrepreneurs bite the bullet and set up in business.
Many have been tutored by Gfirst’s Forest Means Business team, headed by the dynamic Stuart Barnes. It would be great to see some of them enter our awards next year.
And only this week, we have carried the good news story of Cinderford’s Grail Engineering investing in a £500,000 laser cutting machine which will create 20 new jobs and bring new technology to the Forest of Dean.
Also bringing new life to our manufacturing industry is businessman Neill Ricketts, who has recently set up a new factory Versarien in the Dean.
One of Neill’s ideas is to hold a competition to attract apprentices to his factory – and on May 30 a Lord Sugar-style contest combined with an Apprentice Jobs Fair is being staged at Gloucestershire College’s Forest Campus.