News: Prototype Creative win entrepreneur award

Graphic designers Gavin Winder and Joshua Abbotts have been awarded the prestigious top prize in this year’s Rotherham Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2008. The pair’s hard work and determination to make their graphic and web design business Prototype Creative a success, so impressed judges that they had no hesitation in awarding them the title for 2008 – and £1,000 to invest in their company. Awards organiser and judge Geoff Link, enterprise manager at Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) the council’s regeneration arm, said: "Gavin and Josh’s commitment to their business is unquestionable. Their work ethic sees no bounds, they’ve got bucketfuls of energy, loads of great ideas and on top of all of that - they’ve both got a good head for business. They’re only 26, but they seem to know where they’re going and how they’re going to get there - while having fun along the way. "I think we’ll see more of these two in the future. Their business has got a lot of potential." Gavin and Josh moved into a small office at RiDO-run Century Business Centre at Manvers with six months rent-free on a Youth Enterprise scheme. That was February last year. They now run their operation from the biggest office on the site and employ two staff, web developer Jason Smart and office manager Dorna Kelly, and are looking to take on another graphic designer soon. Gavin said: "We’d just like to thank everyone involved with this award, it’s a great addition to our empty awards cabinet. "We’d also like to thank all our clients, past and present who have continually supported us over the last 18 months, we are grateful that they believe our services are worth recognition. "Rotherham Youth Enterprise gave us a fantastic start in business life. The combined business knowledge of RiDO business advisers Martyn Benson and Darren McDool has been priceless. And we couldn’t have done it without our staff. Jason has taken a huge weight off Josh's shoulders, and Dorna’s organisation skills and financial dealings make our whole operation flow a great deal more smoothly."

Prototype Creative website
RiDO website
Rotherham