Gareth Jones and Mandy Weston of Town Square Spaces Ltd have been named Startup Entrepreneurs of the year at the Great British Entrepreneur Regional Awards 2019.
Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrates the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs from across the UK.
The awards ceremony held on Wednesday (18 September) in Cardiff’s Glee Club, brought together a range of businesses and professionals to recognise the outstanding achievers from across Wales.
Town Square Spaces Ltd is an enterprise that builds communities of startups and entrepreneurs across the country through a national network of hubs. By creating welcoming spaces, it supports early-stage entrepreneurs and helps tackle key issues such as the revival of the high street and getting more people engaged in the modern economy.
Since founding in late 2017, Town Square Spaces has secured contracts to set up and run coworking spaces and provide startup support in North Wales, West Sussex, Oxfordshire and across South Wales. In 2019, Gareth and Mandy have been named ‘People’s Champions’ in the Sunday Times’ Masserati 100, Gareth joined the Prime Ministers’ Advisory Council for Small Business and the company successfully attained B Corp accreditation.
Speaking after the win, Co-founder Mandy Weston said it was an honour to be recognised amongst so many promising startups: “In what’s felt like a whirlwind 18 months, we’ve been humbled by the support and feedback we’ve received. It’s not been easy and there have been as many hurdles as there have been successes, but moments like this are a chance to take stock and realise how far we have come in such a short space of time.
“Enterprise is strong in Wales, you only have to look at the other names shortlisted alongside us to see that. There’s a reason the startup scene is growing, particularly in tech. Yes, our connectivity is building and there are more opportunities now than before, but as with most things, it’s down to the people.
“Gareth and I have been lucky enough to work with some of these exceptional people, from parents quitting their job to start a skincare company through to tech creators closing out investment rounds; founders are doing extraordinary things. They are building the very economies that our futures will rest upon, and we’re proud to be a small part of that.”
Founder of the awards, Francesca James, said: “Gareth and Mandy are thoroughly deserving of this award, and the Town Square ethos is very much in line with the spirit of the Great British Entrepreneurs community that we’re proud to have them part of. They are passionate about making a positive contribution to businesses and the individuals behind them and when you talk to Gareth or Mandy that passion is not only obvious but infectious too.”
