We are ecstatic to share that, last night, Guanxi scooped first prize in the Entrepreneurial Spark GoDoAcceler8 Awards in Brighton, taking home a cheque for £3,000.

We were recognized for the entrepreneurial attitude of our Founder, Helena Beard, and the fast growth of the business since entering the Entrepreneurial Spark scheme in August last year. In the past six months, Guanxi has won five new travel and tourism clients and quadrupled our annual turnover.

The Entrepreneurial Spark Scheme is sponsored by NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland and supported by KPMG. As an E-Spark business, Guanxi benefits from access to free collaborative office space in a ‘Hatchery’ in Brighton, and the support of over 50 business mentors and enablers, plus access to training, workshops and peer to peer coaching. There are 80 start up and high growth businesses in the Hatchery, across a wide range of different industries.

Helena Beard, Founder and Managing Director, Guanxi said,

 ‘Entrepreneurial Spark is an adventure. The scheme pushes you to examine and validate your business ideas, and to make the necessary, and often difficult, changes to ensure success. Our journey has been a rollercoaster but, with the support of a great team at Entrepreneurial Spark, KPMG and NatWest/RBS, we have had huge success and I am so delighted we have been recognised with this award.’

Jim Duffy, founder and Chief Executive Officer, Entrepreneurial Spark said,

‘#GoDoAcceler8 is an exciting stage in the Entrepreneurial Spark programme. The progress we see is incredible and it’s hugely rewarding to watch entrepreneurs who joined us three months ago often unable to clearly articulate their business idea stand up and deliver a winning pitch. Our Chiclets have raised more than £45million in investment to date, and #GoDoAcceler8 is an important stage in each business’ growth as they look to scale up and build incredible businesses.’