Heavenly Pizza boss hopes to be third time lucky

Aberdeen based entrepreneur, James Cummings of Heavenly Pizzas is one of eighteen finalists in the 2006 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise.  James is one of three nominees in the running for the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship.  The winner of the award will be announced at the awards ceremony at Ardoe House Hotel on 8 June 2006 and will receive a coveted enterprise award and a cheque for £3,000.

The Awards which recognise business achievement in companies of all sizes and enterprising individuals are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Business Gateway (in association with Scottish Enterprise Grampian).

Chris Travis, chief executive of Enterprise, comments, “The Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship is presented to a young entrepreneur who has demonstrated genuine flair, risk taking and business achievement. The Award is for personal achievement and may reflect the success and/or performance of more than one business venture.  All of the finalists in this category have demonstrated true entrepreneurial characteristics and skills.  I look forward to meeting them all at the awards ceremony.”

Having left school at 15 James continued his education at college.  Whilst studying he had a part time job with a pizza delivery firm.  With one eye firmly on his future James decided that remaining in education was not the right decision for him and subsequently left college and took up a management position with the pizza firm.  Although he enjoyed the work James believed that the processes the firm used could be improved upon.

“From the experience that I had within the industry I knew that I would be able to set up my own pizza business and make it a success.  I approached the bank for finance and used that to purchase all the necessary equipment.  I also bought a second hand mini and used that as a pizza delivery vehicle.”

Set up in 1994 Heavenly Pizzas now employs in excess of 60 staff and has four outlets, two in Aberdeen, one in Stonehaven and one in Kintore.  James plans to continue the growth of the company and a fifth store is set to open later this year.  From the very start James has striven to ensure that Heavenly Pizzas is at the high end of the market.  “In order to offer our customers an authentic pizza experience and to set ourselves apart from our competition we have traditional Italian stone bake pizza ovens.”

In addition to fulfilling the role of managing director for Heavenly Pizzas James is also building a portfolio of both residential and commercial properties.  “Having been involved in the business world for over twelve years I have learnt a lot about determination and resilience, qualities that have stood me in good stead whilst setting up and growing Heavenly Pizzas.  I am now looking forward to taking on new challenges as I add to my property portfolio and lease properties to domestic and commercial tenants.”

This is the third time that Heavenly Pizzas has been a finalist in the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise and the second time that James has been a finalist in the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship category.  James was a finalist in the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship category in 2004 and last year Heavenly Pizzas were named as finalists in the Business Growth award.

Speaking about his nomination James says, “Reaching the finals of the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise for the third time in a row is an achievement it itself.  Each of the nominations has recognised the determination and hard work that has contributed to getting Heavenly Pizzas to where it is today; one of the largest independent pizza delivery operators in the north east of Scotland.”

James is up against Stuart Ebdy of White Spark Promotions and Richard McLaughlin of attic for the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship.

Stuart Heslop, Director of Commercial Banking for RBS in Aberdeen, says “The Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise showcase the diverse range of successful businesses in the north east.  Entrepreneurs like James who display business flair and dynamism have an important role to play in contributing to the north east economy.”

Winners will be announced at a black tie awards ceremony on Thursday 8 June 2006 at Ardoe House Hotel by Aberdeen.  Rachel Elnaugh, one of Britain’s highest profile female entrepreneurs, will be the keynote speaker at the prestigious event.  All finalists will receive a certificate with category winners picking up a coveted enterprise award and a cheque for up to £5,000.

Now in their seventh year, the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise recognise business achievement in the north east for companies of all sizes, operating in a variety of industry sectors.  The awards are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and sponsored by RBS and Business Gateway (in association with Scottish Enterprise Grampian).

Winners from last year’s awards include Poseidon Engineering, Zertech, double award winners Caledus, ANM Group and Graeme Anderson of boxportable.

Tickets cost £80 per guest (plus VAT) or £800 (plus VAT) for a table of ten.  The event begins with a champagne reception at 7pm, with carriages at 12.30am.  Tickets for the event can be booked by calling 01467 672535, or emailing events@enetrust.com.

More information about the awards can be found at www.enetrust.com.  Winners were selected on 13th April 2006 and will not be announced until the awards ceremony takes place on 8th June at Ardoe House Hotel, by Aberdeen.

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Picture Caption: James Cummings of Heavenly Pizzas is one of three nominees in the running for the Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship.

For further information contact:
Laura Cox
Tricker PR
9 Victoria Street
Aberdeen
Telephone  01224 646491
Direct Line 01224 654086
Email  lcox@trickerpr.com