Sukhi Ghuman, managing director of internationally operating security firm, Octavian Security has become the first person to win Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year award twice - and for two consecutive years.
Named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce & Industry's ‘Nottinghamshire BEST Business Awards 2006', Ghuman beat off fierce competition from his peers in Nottinghamshire - one of the UK's most prosperous centres of commercial activity.
The award, which receives more entrants than any other in the ‘Best Business Awards' was presented at a prestigious ceremony held at Nottingham's historic Colwick Hall Hotel - a venue guarded by Ghuman's own officers.
The award was presented to the 28 year old lawyer in recognition of the way in which he has taken Octavian Security from his spare room to a worldwide security presence in just over three years.
In just the past year alone, the company has landed contracts with IKEA, Bovis Lend Lease and the world's leading provider of distribution facilities and services - Prologis. In addition to this, it has hit the headlines nationally and internationally for its deployment of Gurkha security guards at IKEA, launched a leading officer training division and become an established presence in the Dubai security market, as well as establishing a new London office and providing security for all broadcast teams at the Ryder Cup.
Sukhi Ghuman, who began his career as a solicitor with one of the UK's top firms, took on competition from over 100 entrants from Nottinghamshire's vibrant business community to win the award, which was judged by a panel of the county's leading private and public sector business leaders and decision makers.
Providing manned security services, Ghuman's Octavian Security now operates in the UK, Republic of Ireland and the UAE and is currently expanding into mainland Europe. It specifically operates in the sectors of retail, financial & professional services, logistics distribution & warehousing, sports and leisure events, construction and automotive, and remains the UK market leader in outside broadcast security.
The company has continued to achieve well in excess of 100% growth year on year, since its inception in 2003, enjoying a first year turnover of approximately £1 million.
"I was extremely pleased to achieve this award the first time around in 2005, but to receive it for the second time is amazing - and a great reward for all of those 16+ hour working days that I have put in to ensure that both my team and my company's clients get the very best from Octavian," explains Sukhi Ghuman.
"This company still has everything to do, in the past two weeks alone we have been pitching for our first major logistics contracts in Europe and we have been speaking to a number of organisations in both the UK and abroad. We have also begun to establish the associated businesses of Octavian Recruitment, Octavian Law and Octavian Continental."
"Obviously I will now have to ensure that our rate of expansion and success continues on for another year to try to earn the right to retain the award again next year - where we will hopefully be able to announce further international expansion in both the security and facilities management markets, IIP accreditation and leading positions in the logistics and retail sectors."
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