FUTURE PRO MANCHESTER CROWNS THE NEW INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Paul Widger of accountancy firm Baker Tilly fought off competition from professionals across Manchester and was last night awarded the title of ‘Professional Innovator of the Year 2011’ by future pro Manchester.

The Professional Innovator challenge was also open to students and Danny Callan from Oldham College took the title of Student Innovator of the Year.

Aimed at recognising innovative flair in rising stars from the financial and professional services community across the City the entrants took part in a series of thought provoking challenges around the themes of ability to adapt, creativity and persuasive power, written by the judging panel of leading business experts and innovative thinkers.

The winners faced gruelling interviews with a panel of judges including CEO of Laterooms.com Chris Morris, Coral Grainger of Capital Relations and last year’s winner Melissa Davis of Carter Corson. 

The panel were full of praise for the winners, commenting that Paul was a clear winner, energetic and personable with great self awareness and appreciation for development and always willing to go that extra mile

Danny impressed by being the ‘biggest innovator’, at just eighteen years old he runs an online business creating websites and offering other web solutions and services. The judges said he has spark and vision and great grasp of business acumen.

Alex Solk from the future pro.manchester committee said: “The challenge is all about showing that our city’s young talent has the ability to innovate and seize on opportunities. It’s fantastic to see that innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is alive in professional services and in our region’s colleges and universities and we are delighted for our winners - Manchester should be proud.”

Chris Morris said “future pro?manchester's initiative to find leading professional innovators has been a great success, unearthing many fantastic candidates and two very worthy winners. It was a pleasure to be involved in something that recognises the importance of innovation, especially within the professional environment, which is such a key ingredient for business success."

The Professional Innovator Challenge now in its second year is run by future pro?manchester who represent the interests of tomorrow’s leaders in the city region.
For more information please visit www.futurepromanchester.co.uk/proinnovator