BEST NEW ENTREPRENEUR
SPONSORED BY ALT LABS
FINALIST
PETER CALVERT ( Embeddable )
Set for take-off – Imran Anwar of Alt Labs presents Stuart Ellerton with the Best New Entrepreneur trophy .
WINNER
STUART ELLERTON ( SIMFLY )
It ’ s a business that ’ s really taken off in just two years – and plans are in place to ensure it continues to fly .
SimFly Aviation Training is the brainchild of qualified pilot Stuart Ellerton , whose Darlington-based business is helping train pilots and cabin crew in a North-East setting .
Stuart ’ s foresight at seeing a gap in the aviation training market has now been rewarded with the Best New Entrepreneur title at the Best New Tees Business Awards 2024 .
And he continues to reach for the sky , hoping a Boeing 737 fuselage donated by aircraft parts firm Plane Reclaimers will further enhance the training his firm offers .
Stuart – pictured receiving the award from Imran Anwar of category sponsor Alt Labs – said : “ It ’ s lovely to get some recognition for what we ’ re trying to achieve , which is to be the number one trainer of young aviation hopefuls who are chasing the dream , just as I chased the dream many years ago when I became a pilot .
“ We quite literally have no competition at the moment – and I don ’ t think anyone will attempt to set up what we ’ ve tried to set up . But moving forward , we ’ ve got growth on the menu .
“ We ’ re going to be looking for bigger premises to house bigger resources like an evacuation slide and rafts . We ’ ve also been given an 18m-long Boeing 737 fuselage from Plane Reclaimers for our cabin crew training , which is why we need more space .”
After gaining his private pilot ’ s licence aged 22 and amassing various qualifications and licences , Stuart saw a gap in the market after Covid and SimFly is the result .
At the moment , its training facility is based around a fully functioning , fully programmable Boeing 737 flight simulator , right in the middle of Darlington .
Not only that but when trainees walk into the building , they walk into an airport check-in where they have to present a boarding card before going through “ security ” as you would in an airport .
SPONSOR ’ S REFLECTIONS :
Imran Anwar , CEO , Alt Labs : Building Alt Labs for the last eight years , I understand the challenges a founder has to go through . I ’ ve experienced the highs and lows , the adrenalin rush , the sleepless nights .
So , when we were looking at the finalists , it was tight but I think the winner , Stuart , had something really novel – something we ’ ve just not seen in our region . The plans , the aspirations to become a vast scalable business – I won ’ t be surprised if in a few years we see SimFly up for a VelociTees award as one of the fastest-growing businesses .
Peter has demonstrated visionary leadership , strategic thinking and a strong track record of transformative contributions , making his start in entrepreneurship exceptionally successful .
His ability to navigate the dynamic digital landscape is evident from his pivotal role at Mabo , where he spearheaded the tech team and launched Google ’ s comparison-shopping programme , and at The Verve Group , where his understanding of the intersection between technology and finance played a key role in expanding its tech department .
Now the boss of his own company , Peter continues to display ambition , foresight and a commitment to shaping the future of the digital sector .
FINALIST
JAMIE PELL ( AM Training )
Jamie launched AM Training in 2022 to help people overcome employment barriers . Experienced in sales and marketing , he smoothly transitioned to entrepreneurship , with his exceptional relationship-building skills leading to key partnerships with the likes of Arriva and Middlesbrough Football Club .
Even a recent ADHD diagnosis has failed to slow him down . In fact , it ’ s just provided more evidence of Jamie turning potential obstacles into opportunities – an approach that , along with his integrity and commitment , establishes him as a motivational leader and someone dedicated to fostering personal and community growth while driving positive change in the lives of many .
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