South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Surrey Company Wins Dame Anita Roddick Young Entrepreneur Award

7 March 2008

Ticket to Ride, from Haslemere in Surrey, has won the Dame Anita Roddick Young Entrepreneur Award. The Award was presented by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) Chairman, Jim Brathwaite CBE at Ascot racecourse last night.

Ticket to Ride offers five separate travel packages across South Africa, Mozambique and Portugal. Participants can get involved with community projects and gain globally recognised qualifications as surf instructors and beach lifeguards.

This category was open to businesses run by young people (under 30 years old).
Ticket to Ride is an original surfing gap and career break organisation and was set up in 2005 by Will Hayler (24) and Linley Lewis (25). Judges said the founders have demonstrated excellent business acumen and have sought advice from more experienced business professionals. Will and Linley benefited from being a Surrey Enterprise Hub Portfolio company and have also been helped by a Finance South East Merlin Mentor.

“Ticket to Ride is a big supporter of responsible tourism and we look to put something back into all the communities we work in, so to get recognition for broadening young people’s horizons is something we are very proud of,” said Will Hayler, Ticket to Ride Co-founder.

Digby, Lord Jones, Minister for Trade & Investment, gave the keynote speech at the Awards’ ceremony. He said: "The South East contains some of the country’s most exceptional businesses and these Awards are a great way of recognising the region’s achievements. I am particularly delighted these Awards have been designed to recognise sustainability as I firmly believe that business must constantly think about its place in this changing world if it wants to be truly successful."

More information about the Awards is available www.southeastbusinessawards.co.uk