An online greengrocer from Essex has won a month of one-to-one business mentoring from former Dragons’ Den investor and Yo! Sushi founder, Simon Woodroffe.
Daniel Ox, 34, who runs Fruit For The Office, is one of only five winners of the prize, which is backed by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in partnership with The Times.
To win, Ox fought off hundreds of other entrants from across the UK, first submitting a video ‘pitch’ for consideration, and then pitching his case forFruit For The Office - which specialises in delivering fruit and milk to offices around the South East - in person to an expert panel.
Woodroffe will act as Ox’s personal business trouble-shooter, using his considerable experience to advise and inspire him, with the aim of helping the 12-year-old business, which employs 20 people, move on to the next level.
Mentoring will take place in person, but over the month Woodroffe will also make himself available to the young entrepreneur by phone, video conference and email for ad-hoc requests and questions.
The award was organised by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as part of an ongoing commitment to working in partnership with businesses throughout the UK.
Fruit For The Office was chosen because the judges were impressed with the way Ox has taken his family’s long history of greengrocery and worked to modernise it and bring it into the 21st Century.
Ox, said: “At the moment I have lots of good ideas, but I need clarity on which to prioritise.
“I’m hoping I can harness Simon’s experience in order to learn about what I should be focusing on and give my business a new direction”.
Woodroffe added: “I know that Daniel’s business has the potential to become something really special, and I really respect the courage he has shown in putting his business forward for this Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scheme.
“People who are brave enough to take time out of their busy and already pressurised lives to put themselves in situations such as this, where there is a very real danger of failure, will in fact succeed.'
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