Earlier this month, Ben Barker, founder of Yorkshire-based Artemis Brew Ltd triumphed in winning Start-up Director of the Year at the 2018 IOD Yorkshire & NE Director of the Year Awards.
This great achievement allows him to now progress through to the National finals for the IoD Start-up Director of the Year 2018, which will be held on Thursday 18 October 2018 at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London. The finals of the Director of the Year Awards attracts some of Britain’s top business talent and recognises exceptional leadership and good governance.
Having taken the country by storm from their Womersley HQ over the past three years, Ben has high hopes for the future.
Ben stated: “Artemis has come so far since its founding, and the passion that the team and I have, shows no sign of dying down. I’m honoured to have won the Start-up Director of the Year for Yorkshire and the North East, and excited to now be considered amongst brilliant directors from across the UK.”
Ben has picked up five business awards since founding Artemis, and has now set his sights on changing the landscape of coffee in the cocktail industry. This, alongside his revolutionary Nitro Cold Brew systems and popular ready-to-drink bottles, puts Artemis at the forefront of coffee innovation in the UK.
The finalists were chosen from the hundreds of directors that entered into one of the 13 heats across the UK, in 10 different categories. Ben faced strong competition in the Start-up category, going toe-to-toe with directors of four other Yorkshire start-ups. Claire Shakespeare, Founder of Leeds-based bag company Butterfly Tree, was also given a commendation.
Stephen Martin, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:
“The winners from our regions and nations present fantastic examples of business leadership, and it’s heartening to be able to bring their stories to the attention of a wider audience at the finals. I am looking forward to celebrating their success at this year’s event.”
Attended by business leaders, entrepreneurs, government and media representatives, the awards ceremony is a unique opportunity to network, exchange ideas and celebrate with some of the very ‘best of the best’ in British business.
