Reading, Oxford: Two companies named EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalists

Two businesses from Reading and Oxford have been listed as finalists in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 programme. Representing the technology sector, these entrepreneurs will be joined by 25 other companies across London and South at a regional award event to be held in June.

The two are:

• Ed Bradley, co-founder/head of sales, and Tim Ingham, co-founder/head of R&D, of Virtualstock, based in Reading. Virtualstock is a British technology company which has developed a cloud-based SaaS platform to revolutionise supply chain distribution within the retail and health sectors. The company is a pioneer in the new enterprise digital transformation era.
• Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, based in Oxford. Oxford Nanopore has developed the world's first and only nanopore DNA sequencer, the MinION.

Finalists in the London and South programme include 33 business leaders from 27 companies, with a combined workforce of over 16,600 people and turnover of more than £1.06 billion. The finalists are now part of a global network of fast-growth business leaders, with similar events also being held in Scotland, the north of England, and the Midlands.

In each region, an independent panel of judges will select regional category winners, who will progress to the UK final in London in October, to vie for the title EY UK Entrepreneur Of The Year. Each country winner will then attend the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year forum in summer 2018, which gathers the world’s most inspiring entrepreneurs, game changers and government leaders from more than 60 countries.

Now in its 31^st year globally and 19th year in the UK, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognises the spirit and contribution of exceptional entrepreneurs, running in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries worldwide.

Dave Hales, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year leader for London & South, said: “The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme brings together the UK’s most innovative and forward thinking business leaders at events held up and down the country every year, where they can share knowledge and ideas, debate the challenges of the day, and form lasting contacts and even working partnerships.

“It serves to support the enviable entrepreneurial community we have in the UK and celebrate the contribution that it makes to the economy, creating wealth and jobs.”