Oxfordshire: Entrepreneurs named in Barclays national awards scheme

Four Oxfordshire-based businesses and leading entrepreneurs have been announced as winners of the South East regional stage of the Barclays Entrepreneurs Awards at an event held in Oxford.

The winners swept the board in a number of categories with Mike Lawton, founder and CEO of Oxford Space Systems, securing Icon of the Year; Samuel Conway, co-founder and CEO of Zegami, winning Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year; Paul Newman, founder and CTO of Oxbotica, named as Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year; and Michael Queenan, co-founder and Director of Nephos Technologies, winning International Expansion Business of the Year.

Gary Harris, Barclays high growth and entrepreneur director, South East, said: “The Barclays Entrepreneur Awards are a celebration of our clients and an official recognition of their entrepreneurial successes and leadership. This is the fourth year of the awards and each regional winner will go forward to the national stage, which will recognise entrepreneurs from across the UK. I’m delighted that companies form Oxford will be so well represented as it highlights the importance of local entrepreneurs being fundamental to the UK’s economic competitive advantage, disproportionately driving job growth, attracting investment and creating the innovative products and services that shape our local economy.”

All the regional winners will be invited to attend the national Barclays Entrepreneurs Awards Dinner in London on October 10, which will be attended by the other winning entrepreneurs and industry experts from across the UK. A national judging panel made up of key industry leaders and influencers will then select the overall winners and present the awards on the night.