Hull City Council Youth Enterprise Manager Wins Award

A Hull enterprise leader has been presented with a prestigious award in the House of Lords.

Charles Cracknell, Hull City Council’s youth enterprise manager, has been named Enterprise Champion at the annual SFEDI & IOEE Celebrating Enterprise Awards.

The awards are hosted by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) and the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI).

The ceremony brings together representatives from small businesses, further education, higher education, business organisations, the banking sector and government to celebrate people who are making a difference to small businesses through enterprise skills development, mentoring and championing UK enterprise.

The Enterprise Support Champion award is presented to those who have worked to ensure businesses have the skills and knowledge required to start, survive and thrive, supporting a range of businesses and people by promoting business support while continuing their own development as a business support professional.

Charles said: “I am deeply honoured to be presented with this award by the IOEE and SFEDI. I see this as not as an award for myself but for all my colleagues in the area that I work with and our amazing enterprising young people especially those that have gone on to establish their own businesses.

“I hope that it will help us to secure more funding and even more mentors from our business community, in particular, micro business-owners to be mentors for aspiring and current young entrepreneurs.”

Ruth Badger, former BBC Apprentice, businesswoman and Patron of Hull & East Riding Youth Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted that Charles has been recognised by the IOEE and SFEDI. Charles’s enthusiasm, knowledge and support for enterprising young people is there for all to see.