Press Release

BBC DRAGON DUNCAN MEETS INSPIRATIONAL STARS

16 November 2007

MEDIA star and multi-millionaire entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne OBE is set to be inspired by the amazing achievements of people who have overcome huge barriers to turn their lives around.

The popular panellist from BBC 2's hit series Dragons Den will meet and congratulate winners from across the country at Shaw Trust's annual STAR awards at The Brewery in London on November 27th.

The annual awards highlight the astonishing achievements of clients and supporters of Shaw Trust, which provides training and work opportunities to people disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or social circumstances.

"I'm inspired by anyone who can get up and achieve something in the face of adversity or who overcomes problems to succeed in life," says Duncan, who overcame a tough start on a Glasgow tenement estate to build up a string of successful businesses, including health clubs, hotels and property.

"I'm very happy to support Shaw Trust because it's a fantastic charity which helps disabled and disadvantaged people of all ages and does some amazing work," he added.

Individuals and organisations, ranging from national companies to people who have achieved against the odds, have been shortlisted for the national awards which are being hosted by comedian, broadcaster and journalist Simon Fanshawe.

Finalists include battling Huddersfield entrepreneur Stephen Collins who has built up a successful business supplying aids to people with disabilities, although his parents were told he'd never work, drive or get married when he was born with cerebral palsy.

Stephen 47, is planning to buttonhole fellow entrepreneur Duncan in his den at the STAR awards for first hand advice to help expand his thriving business empire.

Stephen joins shortlisted finalists who have been judged winners already, as they competed in six regional awards staged for the first time this year to celebrate the Trust's 25th anniversary.

"This is one of the most important days in our calendar, because it gives us the chance to publicly recognise the wonderful achievements of some of the people we have worked with over the year," said Shaw Trust Chief Executive Ian Charlesworth,.

"The event will also give us the opportunity to showcase our work, because our nominees' achievements are inspirational and show quite clearly what can be done, with the right support.

"We supported a record-breaking 60,000 people last year, but we want to help a great deal more and to do that, we need to break down barriers and prejudices, as well as get funding," he added.

*If you would like to know more about any of the nominees please contact us (contact details in Notes to Editors.). We will alert you after November 27th if there are any winners in your area.

THE SHORLISTED STAR AWARDS NOMINEES IN FULL

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT: NUJIMA BABAR, Glasgow, STEVEN BATES, Middlesbrough, MARK BENTLEY, Solihull, TONY CARRINGTON, St Helens, GEORGE CLARK, Cowdenbeath, STEPHEN COLLINS, Huddersfield, DYLAN EVANS, Lowestoft, PETER HUMPHRIES, Folkstone, ASHLEIGH JAMES, South Shields, WAYNE JEREMEY, Birmingham, STEVE LLOYD, Bridgend, RITA OLIVER, Ashford, TIM ROBERTS, Salisbury, LAURIE SCOTT, Ingleby Barwick, GAIL WOOD, Birmingham, CATH WILLIAMS, Swansea.

NATIONAL EMPLOYER: BARNARDO¹S, Ashford, ESS Harrogate, MARKS & SPENCER, Culverhouse Cross, NORTHERN ROCK, Newcastle, SKY SERVICES, Dunfermline, WILKINSON¹S RETAIL, Birmingham.

LOCAL EMPLOYER: EDINBURGH ZOO, EMERALD GARDENS LAND DESIGNERS Bridgend, LABOURLINE UK Stockport, THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, Greenwich, NEXUS Newcastle, PEAKHOUSE PANTRY Birmingham.

PARTNER ORGANISAION: BUSINESS ABLE, Glasgow & Edinburgh, HACKNEY VOLUNTARY ACTION, Hackney, MOVING UPSTREAM, North Tynside, PETA LTD, Portsmouth, SOUTH BIRMINGHAM COLLEGE, TAMESIDE PROBATION SERVICE,

WORKPLACE MENTOR: SUSAN AUSTIN, Birmingham, PATRICK DOWLING, London, TONY DUNHILL, Shaw Trust Industries, Mexborough, CLIFF GOODALL: Wyevale Garden Centre, Basingstoke, JIMMY HALL, Newcastle, MARGO SWANSTON, Somerfield, Peebles.

VOLUNTEER: MARK McAULEY, Dunfermline, DANIEL MACKAY, St Helens, PATRICIA SIMMONS, Neath, RON SUTTON, Dover, BEV MATHAR, Stockton,

MEMBER OF STAFF: HENRIETTTA BLACK, Motherwell, STEVE TOLE, Leyland, TRACY LEWIS, Devizes, ANNE LYNCH, Birmingham, NIK BROOKS, Rochester, KAREN STURGESS, Lowestoft.

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