OVERVIEW
NEDCO proudly celebrated twenty (20) years of operations in August 2022. To mark this momentous milestone, NEDCO launched a new annual event, the NEDCO National Entrepreneurship Awards.
The global pandemic has been especially hard on our micro and small enterprises (MSEs) which are the backbone of our economy. Many, however, have been able to buffer its impact and not only survive, but thrive! As the organization mandated to support the development and growth of the MSEs, the NEDCO National Entrepreneurship Awards shined a spotlight on these amazing and resilient entrepreneurs and provided them with the national recognition and acclaim that they deserve. The NEDCO National Entrepreneurship Awards was held on Sunday 7th August 2022.
The theme for the inaugural 2022 event was The Essence of Entrepreneurship which applauded the outstanding feats these entrepreneurs would have accomplished to excel during these challenging economic times. These awesome entrepreneurs truly represent what Entrepreneurship is all about!
OBJECTIVES
- To highlight our exemplary entrepreneurs as models of start-up success
- To provide encouragement to our local micro and small enterprises (MSEs) for their successful growth and expansion, especially within these challenging economic times
- To encourage the creation of new start-ups, including within youth, niche markets and emerging sectors
- To plant the seed of self-employment as a career choice within our local society and encourage a culture of entrepreneurship
- To help drive the entrepreneurial development, sustainability and competitiveness of the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector
TARGET MARKET
The NEDCO National Entrepreneurship Awards targets the national entrepreneurship landscape to provide continuous developmental support, as well as aid in the diversification of our economy:
- Youth entrepreneurs
- Female business owners
- Technology-driven start-ups
- Innovative entrepreneurs
- Start-ups with environmentally sustainable practices
- Entrepreneurial niche markets, including retail, hospitality, arts and craft and agro-processing, among others
- The local MSE sector
AWARD CATEGORIES
Minister’s Award – Youth Entrepreneur / Youth in Business
The Youth Entrepreneur Award recognizes and celebrates persons aged 35 or under who started or own a business and would have achieved a level of business success that belies their age. Entrants would have demonstrated innovative business concepts that create economic opportunities for themselves and others. The youth are truly our future!
NEDCO Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The NEDCO Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates NEDCO clients who would have started or own a business and would have achieved significant growth either via job creation or economic improvement.
Green Entrepreneur Award
The Green Entrepreneur Award encourages micro and small enterprises to adopt environmentally sustainable practices, such as recycling, waste reduction and water, energy and building materials efficiency, which lead to a reduced environmental impact, as well as economic gains.
Innovative Entrepreneur Award
The Innovative Entrepreneur Award recognizes and celebrates MSEs which extol the virtue and benefits of innovative thinking in both emerging and traditional industries. Whether its new products, services, processes or markets, the innovative initiatives would have led to job creation or economic improvement.
Technology-Driven Entrepreneur Award
The Technology-Driven Entrepreneur Award recognizes and celebrates MSEs in which technology played a significant role in the growth and achievements of the company. Whether its new products, services, processes or markets, the technology-driven initiatives would have led to job creation or economic gains.
Female Entrepreneur Award
The Female Entrepreneur Award recognizes and celebrates women who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and excellence in business that led to economic growth or job creation.
AWARD FINALISTS
AWARD WINNERS
Minister’s Award – Youth Entrepreneur / Youth in Business
Minister of The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, The Honourable Foster Cummings (Left) presents the NEDCO Youth Entrepreneurship Award to Dr. Mattaus Wilford (Right)
NEDCO Entrepreneur of the Year Award
NEDCO's Chairman, Mr. Clarry Benn (Right), presents the NEDCO Client Entrepreneurship Award to Ms. Nalanee Jones (Left)
Green Entrepreneur Award
Mr. Sheldon Sylvester, President (Ag) NGC CNG Company Ltd (Right), presents the NEDCO Green Entrepreneur Award to Ms. Lauren Peters (Left)
Innovative Entrepreneur Award
Mr. David Roberts, CEO of Trinidad and Tobago Television (left), presents the NEDCO Innovative Entrepreneur Award to Ms. Sian Cuffy-Young Seil (right)
Technology-Driven Entrepreneur Award
Mr. Osmond Prevatt, Manager, Fund Management & Capital Markets at Home Mortgage Bank Trinidad and Tobago (left), presents the NEDCO Tech Driven Entrepreneur Award to Mr. Jahlin Stephen (Right)
Female Entrepreneur Award
Minister of The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, The Honourable Foster Cummings (left), presents the NEDCO Female Entrepreneur Award to Ms. Ain Earle (Right)
Minister of The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, The Honourable Foster Cummings (Centre-Right),
NEDCO's Chairman, Mr Clarry Benn (Centre Left),
NEDCO CEO, Mr Calvin Maurice (Fifth From Left),
Mr David Roberts, CEO of Trinidad and Tobago Television(Fourth from left),
Mr Farook Hosein, Permanent Secretary(Ag) Ministry of Youth Development and National Service(Fifth from right),
Mr Osmond Prevatt, Manager, Fund Management & Capital Markets at Home Mortgage Bank Trinidad and Tobago
& Mr Sheldon Sylvester, President (Ag) NGC CNG Company Ltd pose for pictures with the Award Winners
(From left) Jahlin Stephen: Winner- Tech Driven Entrepreneur Award, Lauren Peters: Winner- Green Entrepreneur Award & Sian Cuffy-Young Siel: Winner - Innovative Entrepreneur Award
(From Right) Matthaus Wilford: Winner -Youth Entrepreneur Award, Nalanee Jones: Winner - NEDCO Client Entrepreneur Award & Ain Earle: Winner -Female Entrepreneur Award
AWARD SPONSORS
Platinum Sponsor
| TTT Limited Media Network |
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Bronze Sponsor
| Trinidad Express |
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CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER
- Entrants must be a citizen or legal resident of Trinidad and Tobago
- Entrants must be 18 years and over.
- Entrants must have an existing business that is in operation for more than 12 months.
- Entrants must be the business owner.
- Entrants must have:
- Less than or equal to five (5) employees, including the owner.
- Annual income less than $TTD 1,000,000.
- Company must be registered to qualify.
- Sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies can apply.
- Only one (1) entry per business is allowed and must be endorsed by any other business owner(s).
- Entrants can apply for a maximum of two (2) award categories but can only win in one (1) category.
- The business initiatives, improvements, technology or green programmes MUST have achieved business growth via at least one of the following over the last twelve (12) months:
- 10% increase in income or more.
- 10% increase in clients or more.
- Job creation via 2 or more persons.
- 20% increase in assets (investments) or more.
- 10% increase in environmental sustainability or more.
- All entrants MUST submit the following documents for their entries to be considered:
- Copy of one (1) form of national identification
- Copy of company registration
- Proof of company address
- Proof of business operations over the last 12 months, including receipts, invoices, contracts.
ENQUIRIES
All enquiries regarding NEDCO's upcoming National Entrepreneurship Awards 2023, MUST be submitted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
ENTRY FORM
Please click the button below to submit an entry for the NEDCO National Entrepreneurship Awards.
Entries MUST be submitted by filling out the below form. Deadline for submission is 12 midnight on July 1st 2022.
You will be asked to complete information under the following six (6) sections:
- Section A: Personal Information
- Section B: Business Information
- Section C: Award Selection
- Section D: Justification, Impact and Sustainability Factors
- Section E: Other
- Section F: Declarations
As part of this application, you should also be prepared to upload the following:
- Copy of one (1) form of national identification
- Copy of company registration
- Proof of company address
- Proof of business operations over the last twelve (12) months, which may include receipts, invoices, contracts
DATES TO NOTE
Award Entries Open: June 13th, 2022
Award Entries Close: July 5th, 2022
Award Ceremony: August 13th 2022, 8:00 p.m. (TTT) | August 20th 2022, 4:30 p.m. (CNC3)
Also streaming on NEDCO YouTube and Facebook
