The National Diversity Awards 2012 Winners

Go Back

Entrepreneurs of Excellence

Julie Robinson, National Diversity Awards

Tris Reid Smith, National Diversity Awards

Mark Esho

Tris Reid-Smith

Julie Robinson

Dom Smith

Sheila Singh

Winner of the Entrepreneurial of Excellence Award for

Age

Winner of the Entrepreneurial of Excellence Award for Disability

Winner of the Entrepreneurial of Excellence Award for Gender

Winner of the Entrepreneurial of Excellence Award for

LGBT

Winner of the Entrepreneurial of Excellence Award for

Race

Julie has worked tirelessly to promote the health benefits of exercise for everyone.
Most people avoid exercise because it is seen as overly exhausting. However, Julie’s Move it or Lose it’ programme has helped to improve the lives of many people suffering from a wide range of illnesses and physical limitations.

Initially specialising in chair-based exercises and movement to music bringing a unique blend of fun and humour, she then introduced standing exercises and is to be applauded for putting the
exercises on DVD which makes it accessible to more people more often.

Dom faces life with courage and determination, always ready to accept a challenge. An individual who has not only succeeded at creating a viable business surrounding his passion but also shares his skills with others to encourage them to succeed. Dom co-founded Disabled Entrepreneurs to support people with a range of difficulties, be they physical or mental, to start-up in business with their idea. Dom regularly travels around the UK promoting and providing content for his business, Soundsphere magazine - an online print publication that looks at rock music and culture specific to the North of England.

Sheila set up a bespoke training college London School of Academics in 2010 after holding down two jobs to support the start up. The college provides disadvantaged students with a range of opportunities and achieve their true academic potential. Despite enduring her own struggles and personal pain, this woman constantly challenged the negative attitudes towards her desire to teach, due to the lack of understanding towards her disability.

Tris Reid-Smith founded Gay Star News Ltd with Scott Nunn in 2011. GSN is based on over a decade of experience Tris and Scott have in LGBT media. Previously Tris had negotiated the sale of PP to its current owners, MPG, and its relaunch as a tabloid newspaper. While at MPG he became group editor-in-chief, having overall responsibility for all titles, including Gay Times, Pink Paper and lesbian magazine DIVA. He had also become a regular commentator on LGBT issues in national and international media. Tris is more convinced than ever that the LGBT world needs quality news and information, written and edited by professional journalists.

Mark is a successful internet entrepreneur and businessman. He started up his first company using just a credit card. Despite not having an IT background; he self taught culminating in a Master Degree in Business Administration and now owns three successful Internet companies, employs 18 staff and serves over 50,000 customers across the UK. Mark contracted polio at the age of 5, leaving him paralysed from the neck down for three years. In 2000, he quit his job and became self employed. Having faced many barriers, Mark went on to set up Easy Internet services and solutions, and Free Virtual Servers, three thriving businesses.

Community Organisation

About the NDA's

The Sponsors