Recycling start-up wins northern leg of £50,000 business contest

An entrepreneur who is tackling head on the millions of tonnes of food waste discarded in the UK has claimed victory at the northern leg of BusinessZone.co.uk's small business initiative.

Kenneth Cheung, managing director of BEEcycle, scooped the top prize at the Manchester heat of The Pitch 2009 after fighting off the competition of five other new businesses.

Judged by a panel of the region's top business talent, Cheung successfully presented his innovative recycling products.

Founded in 2007, his company aims to reduce the 6.7m tonnes of food waste thrown away every year in the UK. When dumped on landfill sites, it produces methane 23 times more potent than greenhouse gases.

Among BEEcycle's solutions is the OvO, a self-sustainable pot which utilizes composting worms to break down food waste into nutrious compost. The business also resells other recycling products and is currently developing its own larger composting systems.

As well as the consumer market, BEEcycle is targeting the education sector with the OvO already used by 20 schools in the North West.

Cheung's victory follows that of David Webb and David Wright, the co-founders of Vibe Gum, who last week won the competition's South West heat.

The three entrepreneurs will join the winners of the remaining regional events in Glasgow, Birmingham and London at a final in November to compete for a business support package worth £50,000 including one-on-one mentoring from former Dragons' Den judge Doug Richard.

Cheung said: "The standard of entrants from the North was really high so I’m extremely grateful that the judges saw the potential of BEEcycle and recognised what a great impact our products could have on affecting public perception regarding climate change.

"To be recognised as the winner by such a successful panel of business experts is a huge honour and as a founder of a young company, the prizes on offer plus the chance to meet the likes of Doug Richard are a dream come true."

Elaine Clarke, managing director of Baa Bar and one of The Pitch North judges, added: "I think it's really encouraging that budding new entrepreneurs like Kenneth are thinking of innovations that can make people more 'eco-active.'

"His products are excellent and perfectly marketable and I hope the award gives his ideas the exposure they need."

The other judges at the Manchester event, held at eOffice, were Lisa Tse, founder of Chinese restaurant and cookery school Sweet Mandarin; Tim Dempsey of Manchester start-up investment specialists Epiphany Capital and Max Wright, from Angels Den, a network which connects investors and entrepreneurs.

The other contestants taking part were Kelly Morshead, representative of CollegeBox.co.uk; David Campbell from Key Wing Creations; Chloe de Valcy from Valcy; Kashek Ahmad, founder of Libre Revolutions and Paul Simon Mac from Cover Step.

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Kelly Morshead, representative of CollegeBox.co.uk, pitching at the North heat of The Pitch 2009

Chloe de Valcy, founder of Valcy, pitching at North heat of the The Pitch 2009

Kashek Ahmad, founder of Libre Revolutions, pitching at the North heat of The Pitch 2009

David Campbell, founder of Key Wing Creations, pitching at the North heat of The Pitch

Paul Simon Mac, founder of Cover Step, pitching at the North heat of The Pitch

Recycling start-up wins northern leg of £50,000 business contest

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