Celebrities
The Make Your Mark campaign has a host of celebrity supporters from TV, film, sport, music and business. Possessing qualities similar to those needed to get a new venture off the ground, these individuals have made it happen for themselves, showing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
These include Peter Jones, James Caan and Jacqueline Gold, Laura Bailey and Wayne Hemingway, Jamelia and Kasabian, and many more!
There are also over 1,000 entrepreneurs and networks supporting the campaign and we share their inspirational stories to inspire others.
Want to get involved?
If you are a forward-thinking celebrity or have a high profile in the business world, and would be interested in inspiring others to make their ideas happen, please contact Rachel Burkitt on 020 7430 8027 or [email protected]
Recent celebrity news
March 2009
Caroline Marsh who went undercover on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire, helped Chancellor Alistair Darling discover some of the UK’s most promising young entrepreneurs as part of the Enterprising Young Brit Awards 2009.
The winners were presented with a trophy and £1,000 prize money by Alistair Darling at the ceremony held at the Institute of Directors (IoD), London. Winning businesses included chilled curry sauces and customised trainers alongside an internet marketing company with six employees - run by a 17 year old!
The Enterprising Young Brits Awards is run by Make Your Mark and supported by the Institute of Directors, The Daily Mail, HM Treasury and The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). It rewards budding young entrepreneurs (aged 30 and under) who have turned their ideas into a profit-making reality, shining a spotlight on the next generation of British business big shots.
Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson said “Make Your Mark’s Enterprising Young Brits Awards are an important opportunity to honour inspirational young people who have demonstrated flair, determination and good business sense in making their ideas happen”.
Caroline Marsh said: “It was a fantastic day. I hope that many young people will be encouraged to discover their greatness, I was so impressed and went home to share with my own kids how fantastic the finalists were.”
To see the UK’s most Enterprising Young Brits visit: The Enterprising Young Brit Awards
March 2009
Entrepreneur Tim Campbell and Bangladeshi-born restaurateur Iqbal Wahhab, joined a panel of judges for an international eco challenge at London’s Globe Theatre. Teams of young people from one of the most politically unstable and war-torn regions on earth competed in the challenge run by the British Council to mark the first-ever Global Entrepreneurship Week last November.
Thirty young people from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan and Uzbekistan took part with the Pakistani team clinching the £2,500 prize for the Central and South East Asia region. The five team members (three girls and two boys aged 17-20) all study database management at the Vocational Training Institute in the city of Jhang in the Punjab province of the country.
Their project is already underway in Jhang where pollution is a real problem. The team devised an integrated waste management system to collect organic household waste from around the city (population around 400,000) to convert it into gas, organic fertilizer/biocompost and electricity. The prize money will expand the project with 20% of their profits going to produce sustainable shopping bags for the city as overuse of plastic bags is currently a real problem.
Tim Campbell said to the teams: “We have learned about some of the issues you have to face in your countries and were incredibly impressed by the passion you displayed. This challenge was about you learning that business is at the heart of social change and we hope that you will take this important message back to your communities.” Find out more about Global Entrepreneurship Week
March 2009
Mobo founder Kanya King gave her backing to a Black Girls In Business event supported by Make Your Mark.
The event, organised by the Building United Communities and g.a.p (growing aspiring people), gave entrepreneurs in the making a chance to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers within the black community. It follows on from the Black Boys In Business event held during Enterprise Week (17-23 November).
Inspirational female entrepreneurs spoke at the event including Dounne Alexander MBE, Barbara Campbell, editor of Black Heritage Magazine, Juliet Alexander from the BBC, Kubi Springer, founder of Sisterhood TV, Claudine Reid MBE and comedienne Tameka Empson of Three Non Blondes fame, amongst others.
Kanya said: “‘I could have only wished for an initiative like this when I was an aspiring businesswoman waiting to make my mark. I believe Black Girls in Business will provide the helping hand needed by the future black, female leaders.”
The event was sponsored by The Voice Newspaper, Ben TV, Sisterhood TV, Make Your Mark, Haringey Council and Black Magic Entertainment.
For more information read this Make Your Mark blog
February 2009
A nation-wide contest is challenging 20,000 young people to use their entreprenuerial talents to turn a £10 loan into a profit with added social impact. Make Your Mark with a Tenner was launched by ex Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry with funding provided by BBC ‘Dragon’, Peter Jones; Michael & Xochi Birch, who recently sold Bebo to AOL for $850m; and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).
A total of £200,000 is up for grabs with a month’s deadline for young people to multiply their money. The 20,000 participants can either keep their profits to develop their business idea further or donate them to a good cause. The £10 loans will be returned to the Tenner Bank at the end of the competition.
Peter Jones said: “We’re aiming to show young people that, by acting on an enterprising idea, it is possible to both make money and make a difference. Quite rightly the next generation is becoming more and more interested in social and environmental issues, and we should tap into this energy, yet in today’s changed economic climate, we also need to remember that working hard to earn money yourself is also something that deserves recognition.”
For celebrity Tenner Top Tips visit Make Your Mark with a Tenner
January 2009
Designer Wayne Hemingway is backing a project to highlight places in the UK where the role of enterprise is positively shaping communities. Enterprising Places aims to put enterprise on the map as a key part of regenerating local economies by developing partnerships with local businesses, councils and community leaders.
Five regional teams are already onboard to help extend the reach of the campaign covering the North East, West Midlands, East of England, Yorkshire & Humber, and North West to help meet the needs of people in every part of the country.
Wayne says: “An enterprising place has low cost places for people who are starting enterprising businesses such as low cost retail units or workspace. There are always places in towns and cities and it’s up to councils to pump prime these areas to give people a chance to get in there.” Hear why Wayne’s backing Enterprising Places
December 2008
Over 56,000 students across the UK came up with an entrepreneurial idea inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic values for the Make Your Mark Challenge final 2008. It sparked off some powerful ideas, many focused on taking forward the legacy of London 2012 and using sport to tackle social issues.
The teams pitched to a top panel of judges, including Nick Fuller, Head of Education at LOCOG and young entrepreneur Leila Wilcox, the 25-year-old winner of Channel 4’s ‘Make Me a Million’. Winners got £3,000 for their school or college, and £100 in high street vouchers for each student. TV double act Matt Littler and Darren Jeffries, who until recently played Max and OB in popular soap Hollyoaks, presented prizes to the winning teams.
Waldegrave School in London won the 14-16 category with My Little Athlete, a small hand held console for young children enabling them to train a virtual athlete for the Olympic Games. In the 16-19 category, John Hampden Grammar School in Buckinghamshire triumphed with True London Tours to train homeless people to provide an Olympic tour service in London providing free directions and priced tours of the main attractions.
The Make Your Mark Challenge 2008 was one of the first projects to receive the London 2012 Inspire mark, which recognises excellent projects that contribute to the spirit of London 2012 and its legacy. Make Your Mark Challenge
November 2008
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 unleashed a movement of entrepreneurial young people across the world with support from a network of hosts from 77 countries. Over three million people took part in 25,000 events including The ‘Big Debate’ on London’s South Bank where Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson addressed the audience via video link.
Notable political figures backing the week included President Nicolas Sarkozy, King Mohammed VI King of Morocco, Aníbal Cavaco Silva of Portugal, and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger. Global entrepreneurs also took part including Steve Wozniak (Apple), Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group) and Pan Shiyi (SOHO China).
Sir Richard Branson said: “Entrepreneurship is business’s beating heart. Entrepreneurship isn’t about capital it’s about ideas.”
Further Global Entrepreneurship Week supporters include:
• Entrepreneurs - Sir Alan Sugar, Peter Jones, James Caan, Karan Bilimoria, Michelle Mone, Simon Woodroffe, Martha Lane Fox, Levi Roots plus Social Enterprise pioneers Tim Smit, John Bird, Penny Newman of Fifteen, Sophi Tranchell of Divine Chocolate, Tim Campbell and One Water’s Duncan Goose
• Government - Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson, Shriti Vadera, David Lammy, Kevin Brennan and many more ministers from across Government
• The four main business organisations (BCC, CBI, FSB and IOD) plus other business leaders including Margaret Heffernan and Gita Patel
• Global businesses and SMEs including Ernst & Young, IBM, Natwest and Microsoft
• TV, film, fashion and music celebrities with a passion for business and social change - Elle Macphearson, Jo Wood, Carrie Grant, Wayne Hemingway, Pearl Lowe and TV double act Matt Littler & Darren Jeffries.
The week saw young people all over the world engage with entrepreneurship and innovation. British Embassies also held events and Ambassadors and High Commissioners attended events in all corners of the world – including South Africa, Italy, Malaysia, Macedonia, Argentina, USA, Vietnam, Poland and Germany. Unleashing Ideas
November 2008
Apprentice boss Sir Alan Sugar has given his backing to Global Entrepreneurship Week.
More than 77 countries around the world are backing the week with support from Arnold Schwarzenegger and US entrepreneur & philanthropist Russell Simmons, Michael Dell, founder of Dell computers in Brazil, while John Cleese and Steve Wozniak of Apple will be speaking at the Creativity World Forum in Belgium during the week (17-23 November.)
Sir Alan says: “A thriving, can-do enterprise culture is part of what makes Britain a great place to do business. Global Entrepreneurship Week is important because it inspires a whole new generation of budding entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality. It’s fantastic to see the UK leading the way in taking the excitement and success of Enterprise Week global.”
For more information on how to get involved visit: www.unleashingideas.org
June 2008
Prominent business women including Jacqueline Gold, Savannah MiIller, Pearl Lowe and Carry Grant are backing the launch of the Girls! Make Your Mark awards in partnership with Handbag.com.
Jacqueline Gold, Head of Ann Summers and Carrie Grant, vocal coach to the stars, will join Natasha Aitken, Editor of Handbag.com to judge five exciting award categories. Designer Pearl Lowe says: “I think the Girls! Make Your Mark Awards will help provide a fabulous arena to showcase the brilliant efforts of female entrepreneurs in the UK today. I know from personal experience that it can be challenging running a start up business, whilst juggling other aspects of your life, this is why I feel it is important to support and help champion females who have gone it alone and are realising their dreams.”
The awards are open to entries until 21st July and those short-listed will attend a glamorous awards ceremony in September. For more information and to enter please visit www.handbag.com
May 2008
Environmental entrepreneur Dale Vince, founder of green energy company Ecotricity, believes the renewable energy sector presents today’s entrepreneurs with exciting possibilities. He’s backing Unleash It! an exciting new way for people to think differently about what it means to be entrepreneurial.
Too often countless ideas never come to the surface leaving problems unsolved and opportunities missed. Unleash It! is a website where new needs and problems are linked to enterprising problem-solvers across the globe, unleashing creativity and innovative solutions to challenges around the world. It means a problem in Botswana can be solved by a team in China, or an idea from a student in rural Canada opens up a solution to traffic congestion in Nairobi.
Dale says: “The renewable energy sector presents today’s entrepreneurs with exciting possibilities and challenges including ways to keep the lights on, what kind of cars we will drive and how we will feed ourselves. In a post oil world and a world where we can’t afford to keep burning things and throwing things away, we urgently need to find sustainable solutions. Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 presents a welcome opportunity to highlight the power of enterprising ideas – they really can make the world of a difference.”
For more information on how to take part visit: Unleash It!
Check out Dale’s blog Zero Carbonista for green energy news
April 2008
BBC Points West newsreader Alex Lovell joined Bristol business women to experience a totally new kind of fitness. Toned arms, taught tummies and firm thighs are old hat. Instead pumped up profits, energetic turnover and a strong client portfolio is where it’s at in 2008.
The Bristol Women’s Business Workout was coordinated by Spark, the Women’s Enterprise Ambassador Network. It brings together successful entrepreneurs and enterprise champions across the UK to encourage women to recognise that business is for them.
Alex said: “The Spark network is a brilliant way to demonstrate to women that running a business is a viable and exciting career option. With over 1,000 Spark Ambassadors already committed to telling their inspiring stories via events, school visits and the media, Spark looks set to expand even further.”
For more information visit: Spark Ambassadors
March 2008
Zac Goldsmith is supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008. It will see millions of young people around the world unleash their ideas to help find solutions to some of society’s biggest issues including poverty reduction, climate change and sustainable development. It aims to inspire millions of young people across the globe to join a growing movement of entrepreneurial people.
Fifty countries have already pledged support to inspire their young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. To think big. To turn their ideas into reality. To make their mark.
Zac says: “There is no doubt at all that we are eating away at the worlds’ resources far faster than can be sustained. The maths is clear, and the implications of continued destruction are truly alarming. Business as usual is no longer an option. Global Entrepreneurship Week will help many young people to understand what they can do to help reverse these trends. That’s what we need if we’re to survive and prosper.”
Zac Goldsmith is editor of the Ecology Magazine. In 2003 he received the Beacon Prize for Philanthropy and the Mikhail Gorbachev’s Global Green Award for ‘International Environmental Leadership’ in 2004.
For more information on Global Entrepreneurship Week (17-23 November 2008) visit www.unleashingideas.org
February 2008
UK celebs have personalised sports balls to help raise money for Sport Relief. Rock band Kasabian and the cast of EastEnders teamed up to decorate balls to support ‘Make your Mark with a Ball.’ It’s encouraging young people to use enterprising ideas with a ball to raise money for Sport Relief to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Tom Meighan from Kasabian says: “Not only is this a worthy cause but it’s so easy to get involved; we had a real laugh customising our football after a kick-about – we’ll let you guess which one of us the feathered fella is meant to be!”
Punters can bid for their favourite celeb balls on auction site eBay from 6th -16th March with all proceeds going to the Sport Relief campaign – www.sportrelief.com .
For other Make Your Mark with a Ball celebs and the chance to win great prizes visit: www.makeyourmark.org/withaball and download an entrants’ pack.
February 2008
Musican and garage producer T2 is backing a competition to give young music entreprenuers the chance to win £3,000 worth of instruments and equipment.Three prizes of £1000 worth of instruments and equipment are up for grabs as part of the Take it Away competition run by Make Your Mark in partnership with the Arts Council.
T2 whose song “Heartbroken” reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart said:”I was thirteen when I started making music and I couldn’t wait to actually produce my own beats. A lot of young musicians out there want to get into producing but aren’t sure how or don’t have the equipment, so it’s great to see that this is offering both the know-how and the instruments.”
For full details visit www.makeyourmarkinmusic.org. The competition runs for a month from 18 February - 17 March and is open to UK residents up to the age of 30.
February 2008
Singer Sandi Thom and hip hop artist Sway are backing a new website called Make Your Mark in the Music Business. It’s designed for people who are driven by music or have ideas in music. It also provides the chance to be one of the first people in the world to play UPSTART, the revolutionary new, super-realistic role play game that puts you in charge of your own record label and takes you through the steps of signing a band and attempting to break them onto the UK scene.
Make Your Mark in the Music Business is supported by key players within the music industry including the British Phonographic Industry [BPI], International Federation of Phonographic Institute (IFPI), Music Manifesto, British Music Rights [BMR], and Sony BMG.
It was launched at an event in the House of Commons hosted by Minister for Skills, David Lammy and compered by Radio 1 Xtra presenter Jenna G. For more information visit Make Your Mark in the Music Business
January 2008
Tim Campbell, winner of the first Apprentice series and founder of the Bright Ideas Trust is backing Make Your Mark With the Mall, a national competition offering the chance for budding retail entrepreneurs to win a unique ‘retail start up package.’
Entrants will have the chance to try out their business ideas for free on a Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) in one of the Mall’s 23 nationwide shopping centres with one lucky winner going on to win a unique ‘retail start-up package’.
It’s got the backing of The Mall, the UK’s leading community shopping centre brand, NatWest and RBS Business Banking. Tim Campbell said: “This competition is a brilliant way of highlighting the dramatic difference established businesses like The Mall can have on individuals and whole communities impacted by their endeavors.”
For more information visit Make Your Mark with the Mall
January 2008
Model Laura Bailey is the face of Make Your Mark in Fashion - a competition offering young people the opportunity to get a foot in the highly competitive fashion industry to develop a new sustainable fashion range for an existing brand. It’s inviting anyone aged 14 to 30 to design a fashion range taking into account every aspect of a successful collection, from creative design and manufacture through to retail.
Laura Bailey says: “It is heartening to see Make Your Mark in Fashion bringing together experience and youth on the essential subject of sustainable fashion.”
Judges and mentors are Ciel, Enamore, From Somewhere, Junky Styling, Juste, Liv, Makepiece, Terra Plana and The Hemp Trading Company. For more information visit Make Your Mark in Fashion
December 2007
Hollyoaks star Matt Littler, entrepreneur Seb Bishop and Dragons’ Den winner Levi Roots helped judge the Make Your Mark Challenge final. Over 38,000 young people took part to help find business solutions to some of the world’s social and environmental issues with the challenge ‘Make it pay in a globalocal way’.
The three winning teams, one each from the school, college and university categories, won £3,000 for their institution and £100 of vouchers for each team member. The second place teams won £2,000 and the third place teams £1,000.
The national finals were hosted by MOBO award winning artist Akala. He said: “All the teams did amazingly well to get to the national finals, but the three winners showed the particular creativity and business understanding needed by entrepreneurs to turn their idea into reality. I really hope the Challenge has inspired a new generation of social entrepreneurs.”
For more information visit The Make Your Mark Challenge website
November 2007
Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones, Apprentice winner Tim Campbell and Emily Eavis of Glastonbury Festival fame are taking part in a national search to find the UK’s finest young social entrepreneurs as part of Make Your Mark in 60 Seconds.
Young people (11-30) are invited to develop enterprising ideas for social and environmental change and to pitch them in a minute to be in with the chance of winning a £5,000 UnLtd Award to make their idea happen.
Social networking site Bebo is showcasing films of four young social entrepreneurs pitching their ideas. A toolkit for young people wanting to develop their own enterprising ideas is also available online for 11 to 30 year olds to submit their own ideas for social and environmental change…in just 60 seconds. They too will get the chance to receive up to £5,000 and coaching from UnLtd to make their ideas happen.
Make Your Mark in 60 Seconds is the brainchild of leading players in the social enterprise world, made possible by UnLtd, the Make Your Mark campaign, What If!, Bebo, the Social Enterprise Coalition and the Office of the Third Sector working with many others.
November 2007
Karren Brady, managing director of Birmingham City Football Club and entrepreneur Dominic McVey are judges in a national competition to recognise young people who have turned their ideas into reality.
The Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits, supported by Vodafone, is open to people aged 30 or under who have grown their own idea, exploited an opportunity, or developed a new way of doing things.
Karren Brady says, “There are some amazing individuals out there running brilliant businesses at a very young age and it’s great to give them a chance to shout about their success. We need more young people out there trying their hand at business initiatives and the winners of this year’s competition are the excellent role models who can help inspire the next generation.”
To find out more visit Enterprising Young Brits
November 2007
Cast of the award winning musical Avenue Q are backing Make Your Mark in the Arts as part of Enterprise Week.
It kicks off with a focus on performing arts in partnership with Hit The Theatre offering 30 young people access to really cheap tickets to West End shows if they have a great idea about how to make the theatre more attractive to young people. The person with the best idea will also win a year of theatre tickets valued at over £2,000. After each show, the 30 winners will go behind the scenes to talk to members of the cast and crew and learn more about how to make their mark in the arts.
To find out more visit: Make Your Mark in the Arts
October 2007
Hollyoaks star Matt Littler is encouraging students to set up Make Your Mark Clubs in their schools. Clubs offering students the chance to share entrepreneurial aspirations and make ideas happen are being rolled out nationally following a successful pilot scheme.
Matt says: “Make Your Mark Clubs are a great opportunity for all young people who have great idea and want to turn it into something real. Get along to a Make Your Mark club to make your enterprising ideas into reality.”
The student-led clubs allow those involved to take risks, develop confidence and work together to use their skills to bring enterprising ideas to life. Make Your Mark is encouraging students within schools, sixth forms and colleges to run their own clubs and benefit from resources such as Club start-up guides, secure online forums and posters. Free resources are available to download and the site also gives teachers and students the opportunity to join a secure online network for sharing ideas.
September 2007
MOBO Award winning hip hop star Akala is calling for entries to the UK’s biggest live and simultaneous enterprise competition – the 2007 Make Your Mark Challenge
Akala says: “The national finals of this year’s Challenge are sure to be fiercely competitive. The teams representing their regions have proven enterprising skills and business understanding by getting this far; all the ideas that have got them here are worthy of winning and I can’t wait to see what the teams have got in store for the judges!”
August 2007
A day with young Formula One racing ace Lewis Hamilton was the prize in a competition launched by Vodafone UK, main sponsors of the McLaren Mercedes team, to support the Make Your Mark campaign. The ‘Hot Laps’ winner got a once-in-lifetime opportunity to meet the hottest property in motorsport and the chance to be his passenger around Goodwood’s Motor Circuit!
Celebrity support for some of our recent initiatives
A Grand Idea to Make Your Mark recently attracted support from celebrities including Lady Sovereign, Akala and Sir Alan Sugar. Jamelia provided her top tips for wannabe winners, and Kelly Rowland sent a good luck message to competition entrants.
Enterprising Britain is run by the Make Your Mark campaign on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and in partnership with the Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations. The 2007 competition attracted support from leading business figures including Lynne Franks, Karren Brady, Simon Woodroffe, Peter Jones, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Sarah Tremellen and James Murray Wells, as well as celebrities Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister and Nicola Benedetti, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004.
Daniel Radcliffe, Lily Cole, Dizzee Rascal and Theo Walcott were some of those involved in The Exceptional Youth Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
Make Your Mark in Film aimed to inspire young people to make their ideas happen through film. It was supported by film producer Lord Puttnam, founder of SkillSet which trains young people to become members of the film and television industries. Lord Puttnam’s production credits include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, The Duellists, Chariots of Fire and Memphis Belle.
Lord Puttnam said: “Make Your Mark in Film is all about working as a team. When it all comes together and the credits start to roll I know of no better experience.
“The actors might be the people with their name in lights but it really is a collaboration of minds which makes a film a success.”
Brent Hoberman, co-founder of Lastminute.com, is also a supporter of the Make Your Mark campaign. He says: “Many young people simply don’t realise their own potential. By exposing them to teamwork and creativity or skills such as financial planning you can give them the confidence and self belief they need to make their ideas happen.”
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