With the government moving to put entrepreneurship near the top of its domestic agenda, entrepreneurship has become a hot topic with conferences, exhibitions and even TV shows such as ‘Risking It All' and ‘Dragons Den' becoming ever more popular. It is here that the BPMA Entrepreneur of the Industry Awards comes into its own.

It is well known that the promotional marketing industry has long been a breeding ground for entrepreneurial spirit, with a number of leading conceptual groundbreaking ideas borne out of this sector. It is therefore important that as an industry we acknowledge the achievements of these entrepreneurs.

Now in its second year, The Entrepreneur of the Industry Awards help to recognise the previously unsung heroes of our sector by acknowledging their business services, innovative concepts and management skills. The awards are now firmly established as the benchmark of excellence in the promotional merchandising industry.

This year's panel of judges were made up of senior UK promotional marketing industry leaders and well known business personalities including BBC 2's 2006 The Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry.

From this year's extremely talented entrants the judges found a vast number of business pioneers, inventors, environmentalists, marketers and, of course, risk takers in our industry. Such a range of talented businessmen and women reflects too the fact that the promotional marketing business attracts and creates many entrepreneurs. Also evident from the panel's deliberation was the large increase in the number of new business concepts entering into the market, as well as the welcome increase in female entrants.

These are people who have identified a market for an otherwise unrecognised product or service which they have proceeded to promote through hard marketing, sales and promotion of every nature. It is testament to the future strength and growth of our industry that we are witnessing ambitious driven people pursuing their business ideas and concepts through to fruition.

From a very strong shortlist, the 2007 winner was Calypso Rose, managing director of Clippykit, designer of the Clippykit range of PVC fashion accessories. Calypso was identified above the other shortlist entrants for her innovative consumer focused business concept. The judges were particularly impressed with the product's simplicity and versatility and Calypso's natural entrepreneurial flair, creativity, vision, tenacity, determination, and head for business beyond her years and, above all, her ‘no fear' approach to business.

The strength of the entrants to this year's awards again demonstrated that our industry depends on entrepreneurship for its lifeblood, providing vibrant new ideas by keeping our industry fresh and invigorated. As chair of the panel of judges I can speak for the panel in saying that we have thoroughly relished the task of reviewing the business success stories of 2007.

The Entrepreneur of the Industry Award continues to go from strength to strength.

David Lebond, BPMA chairman

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