Catering Academy reaches business final

Set up less than three years ago, the catering firm, which delivers fresh, local food to schools and colleges, has been crowned one of the country's 10 best new businesses in the 2007 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards – a national showcase for the most promising start-up businesses and the inspirational entrepreneurs behind them. Now owners Allan Causey, Kevin Cannon, Louise Wymer and Stacey Rose look forward to October 24th when the overall winner will be named. Although the business is new, the four founders have more than 100 years of contract catering experience between them. In addition to working with commercial and industrial businesses, the contractor offers a complete management solution, including manpower provision and purchasing services. Setting out to target contracts with a minimum turnover of £200,000 a year, catering Academy has remained ahead of that goal. Last year it won its first group contract, worth £750,000 annually, and will be concentrating more on group business in the future. It now operates across 40 client sites from Edinburgh to Bournemouth and expects to report a turnover in excess of £10 million this year. Catering Academy has not lost a single contract and the four founders boast that staff turnover is also extremely low, reflecting the 'Team Academy' spirit of the business. Chief Operating Officer for HSBC Commercial Banking, Simon Wainwright adds: "We hope the success of Catering Academy in this year's HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards will help it go from strength to strength, as well as prove to other budding entrepreneurs that business dreams really can be turned into reality." The overall winner will be announced at a black-tie event at London's Dorchester Hotel – attended by over 300 guests. A runner-up will also be presented with a cheque for £7,000, whilst a special Green prize of £5,000 will be awarded to the best new business whose eco friendly credentials are considered to be outstanding. Meanwhile, by reaching the top 10 Catering Academy has already won a prize package comprising the Quick Books Pro and Small Business Payroll, plus SimpleStart from Intuit and Google Adwords credits, plus 30 days of dedicated account servicing from Google UK. "HSBC created the Start-Up Stars Awards seven years ago as a national celebration of entrepreneurship, designed to recognise and honour the country's top new businesses less than three years old. Catering Academy shone out as a company with that special 'X' factor epitomising the spirit of these awards – an impressive combination of creativity, determination, dedication, management skills and business flair." Chief Operating Officer for HSBC Commercial Banking, Simon Wainwright