Greg congratulates Flare Bright on winning Entrepreneur Award
Greg has congratulated aerospace business Flare Bright for being named as a winner of Entrepreneur Awards launched by Octopus Group’s Springboard initiative.
The challenging conditions presented by the pandemic have brought out the very best from entrepreneurs right across the UK. As a result Octopus Group, the financial services and energy firm, created the awards and asked MPs to nominate entrepreneurs in their constituencies who have thrived during this challenging period by starting and growing their business against the odds or by using their company’s resources to support their local communities.
The awards were judged by a panel of politicians and entrepreneurs, including Octopus Founder Chris Hulatt, Shadow Employment Minister Seema Malhotra MP, Katherine Fletcher MP and Andy Carter MP, who both started their own businesses before entering Parliament, and Karen Taylor, Founder of Parent Cloud, a beneficiary of Octopus Group’s internal Springboard scheme.
Greg presented the award along with Octopus Founder Chris Hulatt to Flare Bright, based in Westcott, in a virtual ceremony. By celebrating the successes of world-leading entrepreneurs, Octopus Group’s Springboard initiative, supported by Greg, hopes to inspire others who may be considering starting their own business, showing them that it is a viable option for anyone, regardless of background, gender or race.
Flare Bright is a rapidly growing aerospace company pushing the boundaries of AI technology to develop autonomous drones. By winning new investment and contracts, Flare Bright managed to double their head count, including an apprentice from a nearby college. They also expanded to a larger centre for research and innovation despite lockdown restrictions. They are looking to capitalise on their recent InnovateUK Future Flight grants to continue growing, including taking on another apprentice.
Greg said: "I'm thrilled that Flare Bright have won this prestigious award. They have grown their business brilliantly. This is really cutting edge technology and it is very much in demand. To expand to a larger centre for research and innovation in lockdown is a real triumph. Involving a local student is great for the community and well as the company."
Chris Hulatt, Founder of Octopus, added: “When we asked Members of Parliament to nominate entrepreneurs in their constituency deserving recognition and celebration of their efforts during the pandemic, we didn’t anticipate just how many wonderful stories we would receive.
“We’ve been so impressed by the range of business founders who have thrived against the odds during this challenging period by starting and growing their businesses, and using their company’s resources and expertise to support their local communities.
"As the UK looks to build back better through 2021, these small businesses will be vital to create the jobs that will be needed. The awards are a great way to celebrate local entrepreneurs with their MPs and highlight some of the brilliant work they have been doing.
“As a company that works closely with many entrepreneurs, we’re excited to be able to help recognise some of the brilliant work that is being done across the nation and I send my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners,” he added.
