Dale Vince named Ernst & Young London & South Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 - Ernst & Young - United Kingdom

Left to right: Richard Hall, Ernst & Young; Gary Freedman collecting the London and South region Overall EOY award on behalf of Dale Vince of Ecotricity Group Limited; Jeremy Vine, Master of ceremonies

Tuesday 16 June 2009: Gloucestershire MD, Dale Vince of Ecotricity Group Limited, was named Ernst & Young London & South Overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009, at a dinner in London last night.

The judges described Vince as a ‘passionate, self-taught, intuitive entrepreneur with an inspiring, entrepreneurial story’. Vince realised that he could transform his desire to live an alternative life style into an opportunity to make a real difference in the world. He has continued to use his passion and instinct to build a successful business.

26 London and South business leaders were named regional winners (see list below) and will go forward to a national final in October to compete with 53 top executives from across the UK for the title Ernst & Young Overall UK Entrepreneur Of The Year. The UK winner will go out to Monte Carlo in May 2010 to represent their country at Ernst & Young’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.

About Ecotricity Group Limited
Ecotricity is the UK’s leading green electricity company. It is a vertically integrated developer, generator and retailer of Green Electricity.

When climate change was a little known concept Dale created a product that did not exist before, a new kind of electricity and with it a new kind of electricity company – the Green kind.

Ecotricity has grown from the ground up to be a totally integrated energy group, beginning the now global movement of green electricity supply. Innovation and leadership are two core characteristics of the group demonstrated by a number of impressive industry firsts, including the UK’s first megawatt class wind turbine, and all this from the most humble of roots.

Iain Wilkie, partner and London Entrepreneur Of the Year leader at Ernst & Young said "Entrepreneurs are at the forefront of leading our economy out of recession.

“Dale is a strong leader and a passionate entrepreneur with a clear vision for Ecotricity and its future. He's created a compelling proposition for his customers, suppliers and employees with all profits re-invested into green businesses."

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.

As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognising them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Independent judging panel
The London & South independent judging panel 2009 included: Chris Harrison, consultant and executive coach, CAH Consulting; Suzanne Baxter, group finance director of MITIE Group PLC; Ian Burke, chief executive of Rank Group Plc; Gerry Ford, chairman and chief executive of Caffè Nero Group Ltd; Peter Griffith-Jones, group finance director, Kelvin Hughes Limited; Mike Jatania, CEO of Lornamead Group (Ernst & Young UK Consumer Products Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008); Clive Lewis, joint managing director of Lewis Trust Group Ltd; Neil Record, chairman & CEO of Record PLC (Ernst & Young South region Business Products Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007); Hugh Richards, partner at Exponent Private Equity LLP; and David Steventon, Chairman, @futsal Limited.

Full list of Ernst & Young London & South Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 regional winners below:

• John Griffin, founder and chairman of Addison Lee Plc – minicab and courier service
• Andrew Black and Edward Wray, Co-founders of Betfair Group Ltd – online betting community
• John Kearon, CEO of BrainJuicer Group PLC – online market research agency
• Haroon Sheikh and Farouq Sheikh, chief executive and executive chairman of CareTech Holdings PLC based in Potters Bar – specialist housing support for adults & children with learning and physical disabilities
• Patrick Southon, MD of Cashcade Limited – marketing gaming company
• James Hull, CEO of Dr J D Hull & Associates Limited – providers of dental care
• Duncan Goose, MD of Global Ethics Limited – producer of ethical water and condoms. Water sales fund water pumps in developing countries and profits from condom range fund HIV/AIDS testing
• Kate Bleasdale, executive vice chairman of Healthcare Locums (HCL) PLC – providing temporary and permanent staff to the healthcare and social care sectors
• Michael Spencer, CEO of ICAP plc – voice and electronic interdealer broker, delivering specialist intermediary broking services to trading professionals in the wholesale financial markets
• Ken Scott, chief executive of ILX Group plc – mechanical, business training and educational products and services including e-learning, public and custom classroom training, reference manuals and consultancy
• Simon Calver, CEO of Lovefilm International Limited – online DVD rental and other film related services
• Rob Lewis, CEO of Omnifone Limited – provider of unlimited music services to fevice vendors, ISPs and mobile network operators
• Dominic Taylor and Tim Watkin-Rees, chief executive and business development Director of PayPoint plc based in Welwyn Garden City – cash and internet payment company
• Charlie Mullins, MD of Pimlico Plumbers Limited – largest independent service and maintenance company within the M25
• James Averdieck, MD and founder of Rensow Limited – t/a Gü Puds – dessert manufacturer
• Michael Tobin, CEO of Telecity Group plc – provider of highly connected data centres in Europe
• Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Change Organisation t/a The Climate Group – not for profit organisation working with businesses and governments to advance climate change solutions
• Glen Manchester, CEO of Thunderhead Limited based in Borehamwood – software company enabling organisations to create personalised, contextual customer communications
• Colin Maund, CEO, Achilles Group Limited – works to identify, qualify, evaluate, and monitor suppliers on behalf of major organisations worldwide
• Dale Vince, MD, Ecotricity Group Limited – world's first green electricity company and the UK's biggest independent wind farm company
• Dr Drew Nelson, IQE plc, President/CEO – global supplier of advanced semi-conductor wafers
• Will King, King of Shaves Company, Founder & CEO – developed King of Shaves brand
• Earl of March & Kinrara, CEO, The Goodwood Estate Company Limited – Country house management