South Yorkshire-based business founder Nicky Story, 30 from Mexborough, has been named as the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year winner, for GBEA North West and Yorkshire and The Humber region, at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
In partnership with Starling Bank, the ceremony was held at Grosvenor House in London on 22 November, and from the 4800 applications, the event saw 159 entrepreneurs across the UK recognised for their entrepreneurial stories and achievements over the last year.
Nicky Story started his business from his garage nearly six years ago in February 2016, and is now the owner of a multi-million pound business empire and the CEO of Supplies For Candles, The Soap Kitchen and Glassprint Ltd – this b2b empire, is the go-to for candle and soap making ingredients and products – helping thousands of other entrepreneurs also create new enterprises from home.
Supplies for Candles has growing rapidly with a 180% increase on last year’s figures, as they have more than doubled in size. Nicky’s businesses are predicted to turn over £20m this year, as they continue to serve over 100,000 customers and employ over 100 members of staff across two different locations in the UK (two sites in Mexborough, South Yorkshire and one site in Devon). Supplies for Candles CEO, Nicky Story said; “I’m so pleased and proud to have won this award – when they called my name out I was genuinely overwhelmed. I started this whole thing on my own in my garage, but it’s my incredibly talented team from both ends of the country who make all the difference, this is another exciting step for us as a company as we rapidly grow and continue to celebrate collectively all that we have achieved.”
Nicky’s b2b businesses have helped thousands of others become successful entrepreneurs including; Ava May Aromas loved by many celebs including cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch. Additionally, at the beginning of the pandemic, Nicky also gave away £100,000-worth of candle making kits and business start-up packs to support those who had been financially affected by the pandemic – and as a result, over 2,000 people went on to set up new businesses who Nicky’s team continue to support on a regular basis.
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards launched in 2012 to celebrate the best of British enterprise, inviting founders from across the UK to apply with their entrepreneurial success stories.
This year, after having to hold the awards virtually in 2020, the organisers brought together all eight of their regional shortlists for the first time, with a guest list of 1,200 entrepreneurs, judges, mentors, investors and partners invited to the London celebration. Over the last decade, the Awards have celebrated some household names including; Julie Deane OBE of Cambridge Satchel Co, Alan and Juliet Barratt of Grenade and Shaun Pulfrey of Tangle Teezer. Its most recent headline-grabbing success story is its previous winner, and speaker at this year’s event, Steven Bartlett, who in May was announced as the youngest ever Dragon on BBC’s Dragons Den.
The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and leaders of influential UK businesses, including some of the prize winners from previous years.
Francesca James, Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, spoke highly of the entrepreneurial talent coming out of this year’s cohort: “With more than 1,200 attending, the evening was a real snapshot of the UK economy. The winners were thoroughly deserving, overcoming some stiff competition from their fellow finalists, and we look forward to welcoming them into our alumni community and seeing what they do next. It’s always exciting to watch our previous winners go on to achieve amazing things and I don’t expect any less from this year’s award recipients, who we will support all the way.”
Anne Boden MBE, Founder of Starling Bank, headline partner of the Awards, said: “It is fantastic to see these worthy individuals being celebrated through these awards. We wish all the shortlisted businesses the best of luck with their future endeavours during these changing times.”
Nicky is excited for the future, as he embarks on his 2022 goal to further expand the team and launch new arms of the business, he said; “Over the past year we have cemented ourselves as market leaders in our industries. I am extremely excited for what the future will bring, my 2022 goals are to continue to expand and explore other acquisitions. I am confident and determined to reach £100m within 5 years – I plan to change the world for the better.”
