Strategic Marine chairman Mark Newbold has won his second major award for the year, joining five others as winners of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year western region 2008 awards.
Strategic Marine chairman Mark Newbold has won his second major award for the year, joining five others as winners of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year western region 2008 awards.
Mr Newbold joined Rod Jones of Navitas Ltd, Torsten Ketelsen of GMA Garnet Group, and Richard Poulson and Kylie Radford of boutique fashion design and retailer, Morrison, in being named the region's best entrepreneurs in four competitive categories.
Earlier this year, Strategic Marine won the WA Business News 2008 Rising Stars award, which rewards unlisted WA-based companies experiencing fast, yet consistent growth.
The Henderson-based shipbuilder has been riding the crest of a wave in recent times, announcing in June that it would build eight aluminum crew boats on a speculative basis.
Taking advantage of the relatively high demand for offshore vessels in international shipping markets, the venture is expected to boost the company's revenues by more than $40 million.
WA marine services company Samson Maritime has already ordered two of the 40-metre crew boats, signing a contract worth around $10.2 million.
The eight boats will be built at overseas shipyards, with six 40-metre vessels to be constructed at Strategic's Singapore yard, and two 52-metre boats at its facility in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Applecross-based Navitas Ltd was established in the mid 1990s by managing director Rod Jones. In 13 years the business has grown to provide pathways education to more than 32,000 international students across Australia, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zambia, Canada, the UK and Indonesia.
In mid June, the education group announced it had agreed to buy Melbourne Education Group Pty Ltd, and the majority of the shares in Australian Institute of Public Safety Pty Ltd for $2.2 million.
In the non-competitive categories, Jenny Allen of Youth Focus Inc was awarded the social entrepreneur prize, while Gordon Martin was rewarded with the champion of entrepreneurship prize.
Ernst and Young WA regional managing partner Jeff Dowling said all the winners had excelled at growing and sustaining their respective businesses.
"Our Western Region Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winners highlight the achievements and innovation of our business community and show just what can be achieved with hard work, perseverance and ingenuity," Mr Dowling said.
"Altogether, the 17 western region finalists in the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program employ 3,396 people and have combined turnover of $602 million, making a significant contribution to the WA economy."
The winners will compete for the 2008 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year national awards in Sydney on November 27.
