Net profits
Published 22 January 2010
A £1 million increase in turnover and a doubling of profits have earned a restaurateur one of the university top business awards.
Judges said David Downard, who runs Mountain Range Restaurants, had defied the recession by producing an "outstanding performance" and by "developing and growing in a dynamic and proactive way".
David, chief executive of the chain, which runs two Sussex restaurants, The Swan at Forest Row and The Black Horse at Findon, expanded by buying The Coney in West Wickham, Kent. By the end of the year the company's turnover had increased to £2.5 million.
Peter Stanley of Aldingbourne Trust (left) and David Downard of Mountain Range Restaurants.
David collected the Star Performer award at the university's Profitnet achievement presentations held at Falmer last night (21 January).
Profitnet is the first university-run peer-to-peer business support programmes in the country for small and medium-sized enterprises. Mr Downard said: "Profitnet opened up a whole world of strategic and practical advice, knowledge and training.
“Best of all, it helped us make more money."
Since its launch in 2004, Profitnet has helped more than 600 businesses in the UK, Ireland and South Africa. Its groups foster learning and innovation by allowing members to exchange knowledge and experience while tapping into specialist resources and expertise at the university.
Deana Ward, Profitnet's business development manager, said: "More than 90 per cent of our members say the programme helped them improve their planning and strategic skills, and over 70 per cent say it helped them develop new innovation strategies."
A total of 117 new products and 95 new services were developed by members in the two years to 2008, 43 new businesses were created and members employed almost 100 new workers. The average turnover for the year to 2008 increased 19 per cent.
Deana said: "The impact of Profitnet and the benefits it has delivered to members is a result of practical collaboration. Profitnet is a bridge between the worlds of academia, enterprise and innovation."
Other winners honoured at the event were: Innovation Champion – Peter Stanley of Aldingbourne Trust in West Sussex, which provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities; Profitnet Hero – Robin Houghton of Egg Box Marketing (Lewes) and Peter Jenkins of e-Advantage Solutions (Shoreham); and Supergroup – West Sussex Pofitnet Plus Group.
Left to right, Colin Monk, the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Business and Marketing, David Downard and Marc Koska, founder of the Safe Point Trust.
More than 200 people attended the awards night and guest speaker was university honorary graduate Marc Koska, inventor of the K1 single-use syringe and founder of the Safe Point Trust.
He said: "Profitnet brings the whole business community together and recognises the importance of communication and knowledge."
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Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
