The Rising Star Award
Each year, Marketing Derby gives the opportunity for an up-and-coming entrepreneur in the city or county, to receive a complimentary year’s Bondholder membership, along with local publicity and invitations to events.
Could you be Marketing Derby’s next rising star?
Entries are being accepted to find the Rising Star for 2025.
Applicants should send in an outline of their business idea, a brief background of their story so far and why they would like to become the next Rising Star.
The applications will then be shortlisted and the winner announced at Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event in January.
Applicants must be in their first 18 months of business and willing to attend at least 10 Bondholder events during their year as Rising Star.
To apply to be the Marketing Derby Rising Star for 2025, please e-mail Lindsey.hatfield@marketingderby.co.uk by 13 December.
Marketing Derby Rising Star 2024
Two Chevrons Group has been revealed as Marketing Derby’s Rising Star for 2024.
Two Chevrons Group helps veterans and blue light staff make the transition to the civilian world.
Founder of Two Chevrons Group, Joshua Leach-Aslam says: “We partner with businesses, allowing us to focus on education, mentoring and transitioning. As a veteran, I have a first-hand understanding of the challenges you face when you leave the armed forces.”
We are delighted to welcome Two Chevrons Group to the Marketing Derby Bondholder community.
The Marketing Derby Rising Star 2023
Social enterprise, Upbeat Clean was revealed as the Marketing Derby Rising Star 2023.
Upbeat Clean combines commercial cleaning services with life changing employment, enabling Derby’s refugee community to access training and rebuild their lives through real living wage employment. It supports refugees from all over the world who come to Derby – and particularly in the past year, those who have come from war-torn Ukraine.
Head of Enterprise, Michael Gladwell says: “We set up Upbeat Clean because we were aware that refugee mums in particular, who had fled with their children and were trying to rebuild their lives, were struggling to do so because they could not find a job.
“We would love to talk to more organisations in the Bondholder community about how we can work with them.”
The Marketing Derby Rising Star 2022
A business that creates and sells a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks was named the Marketing Derby Rising Star 2022.
So Good Kombucha, which was founded by Lesley So, was chosen by the city and county’s inward investment agency as the winner of the 2022 competition, which aims to give entrepreneurs and new businesses a helping hand.
“I am very grateful for this amazing honour and opportunity.
I have been welcomed with open arms by the Derby business community and am so thankful for the support”, said Lesley So, founder of So Good Kombucha.
The Marketing Derby Rising Star 2021
The Swap Shop, a company that came from an idea floated during a Marketing Derby live webinar was chosen by the city and county’s inward investment agency as the winner of the 2021 competition, which aims to give entrepreneurs and new businesses a helping hand.
The firm received a year’s free Bondholder membership and a year of free PR and communications support from Nielsen McAllister.
“Being Marketing Derby’s Rising Star in 2021 confirmed Derby Swap Shop’s place among the supportive community of Bondholders and cemented its place in the city that inspired its creation”, said The Swap Shop co-founder Rachel Hayward.
“Collaboration, innovation, resilience and bravery remain our cornerstones, inspired through the membership we have enjoyed.”
– The Swap Shop co-founder Rachel Hayward, from Ask the Chameleon
Previous winners
2025
Could this be you?
Entries are being accepted to find the Rising Star for 2025. Find out more here.
2024
Joshua Leach-Aslam, Two Chevrons Group
2023
Michael Gladwell, Upbeat Clean
2022
Lesley So, So Good Kombucha
2021
Rising Star: The Swap Shop
The Rising Star Galaxy: Crafty You Crafty Me, Divine Box, GoldBox Productions, MiniAperture Photography, Parry Creative, The Crinkle Project
2020
Katie Lavis, Little Starts Gift Cards
2019
Abbi Burns, Darley Dance Productions and Sonia Sohal, The Fit
2018
Owen Conti, Code 56
2017
Michael McBride, Rested Cocktails
2016
Edward Hollands, Driven Media
Winning the Marketing Derby Rising Star award, particularly in recognition of our innovation, was a huge privilege.
Receiving the award initially enabled us to raise our profile locally among the local business community, both through the events we initially attended and the press coverage that followed.
Katie Lavis, owner of Little Starts Gift Cards and winner of the Rising Star Award 2020
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more information about the next Rising Star Award, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly by completing the form below or email Lindsey at lindsey.hatfield@marketingderby.co.uk.
Lindsey Hatfield
Commercial Development Manager