Livewires with will to win John Connor Awards

The award scheme was created to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds start their own businesses as a means of promoting entrepreneurship and tackling social exclusion. 21 young people were shortlisted for the awards this year which include prizes for Growth Potential, Innovation, Personal Achievement and two awards for Positive Impact.

Winner of the main award for Growth Potential and £1000 is Andrew McPherson, 28, from near Canonmills. After struggling at school with dyslexia, Andrew worked as a removal man before deciding to set up his own pick-up and delivery business called ‘Precision Moves’ in December 2007.  In the last few months he has established an increasing range of clients in and around Edinburgh. He has also recently secured a new contract with a large storage company and is now looking to take on his first employee. 

Talented fashion designers, Emma Creighton, 24, and Angela Searle, 24, both previously unemployed, were awarded the Innovation Prize and £750. Their business is based in Sighthill, founding ‘Extravagant Underground’ in February 2007 and specialising in unusual eco-friendly corsetry and headwear with unique designs.

Winner of the Personal Achievement prize and £750 is Carol Willson, 27, of ‘A2Z Hair Creations’ based in Polwarth. Carol has come through some extremely difficult times including a period of homelessness. After battling a number of personal and health issues, Carol has shown great determination in creating a stable life for herself and taking the brave step to launch her own business. She received funding and support through the Edinburgh Cyrenians and PSYBT and although she has only been trading since November 2007 she is already forging a great reputation for her mobile hairdressing services.

Faye McCallum, 23, and Alina Dobryden, 25, were declared joint winners of the Positive Impact prize and £750 cash prizes. Faye set up ‘Garden Girls’, a gardening and landscaping business after a long period of unemployment. She is now carving out a solid foothold in an otherwise male dominated industry and in addition to offering gardening and landscaping, she is also a qualified bricklayer.

Alina Dobryden from the Ukraine set up her fine art photography business, ‘Alina Kisina’, just over a year ago. Alina suffers from a low immune system and has to make frequent trips to hospital for specialist treatment. She has been long term unemployed due to this illness but earned nationwide recognition for her photographic work. A portion of all her business profits go to support the children of Chernobyl.

The John Connor Awards are inspired by John Connor’s own upbringing in Edinburgh’s Saughton district. John spent his early years living on the poverty line before escaping a potential life of crime for the Merchant Navy. While waiting for his ship, John took a part time job in the local paper mill and stayed with the company working his way up into management. In 1984 John led a management buy out and Stirling Fibre Ltd is now privately owned.

Commenting on the awards, John Connor said, “I was determined to find a way to help support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and I’m delighted that the John Connor Awards is recognising such wonderful and inspiring young people as Andrew, Emma and Angela, Faye, Alina and Carol. They have all shown great spirit and determination to set up their own businesses despite very difficult personal circumstances and they are showing themselves to be truly enterprising young people and great contributors to their local communities.”