Winner!

March 2009:

Your Local Cinema .com has won the 'People's Choice Award'
at the Daily Mail Enterprise Awards.

Thanks to everyone who voted!

 

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Press release:

'Your Local Cinema .com' founder honoured with national 'Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits' award.

 

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24/03/09.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling today presented the annual 'Daily Mail Newspaper Enterprising Young Brits - People’s Choice' Award to Dean Rhodes-Brandon, founder of 'Your Local Cinema.com - the not-for-profit cinema listings & information service for people with hearing or sight problems.

Thousands of people including readers of the Daily Mail newspaper voted for the twenty finalists. Winner Dean was a finalist in the 'Teen' category and his company 'Your Local Cinema .com' received the most votes overall. The company runs an information service and website that exists to create awareness of - and increase audience figures for - subtitled & audio described cinema releases and shows. It is sponsored by the UK film industry.

The company has worked with the UK film industry, technology companies and charities representing people with hearing or sight problems to ensure that the UK leads the world in 'accessible' cinema. Most popular cinemas now have facilities to screen the latest films with subtitles and audio description (a narrated soundtrack) for people with hearing or sight problems.

Speaking at the event Alistair Darling said 'I have been enormously impressed with the talent of the winners and the finalists. They have excellent ideas and also have the enterprise to develop those ideas. The enterprise, imagination and determination to succeed of these young people sends a clear message that there is a good future out there. It is all to play for.'

The event was hosted by the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London and recognises young people who have turned their ideas into reality. Finalists had to endure a 'Dragons Den' style pitching process and a Q&A session from the high profile judges, including Make Your Mark’s chief executive Harry Rich; Homeserve’s Richard Harpin; property investor and star of Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire Caroline Marsh; Alex Brummer, city editor of the Daily Mail and director general of the Institute of Directors Miles Templeman.

Chairman of the judges Harry Rich, chief executive of Make Your Mark, the campaign behind the awards, said: 'It's great to see people making it in these tough economic times and we hope this signals a bright future for British business.'

Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson had this to say: 'Enterprise and innovation are key to the UK’s future economic growth and success. The Awards are an important opportunity to honour inspirational young people who have demonstrated flair, determination and good business sense in making their ideas happen. I would like to congratulate all the nominees and wish them all the luck in their careers'.

Eighteen-year-old winner Dean - who is profoundly deaf - founded the popular 'Your Local Cinema .com' information service & website whilst still at school. Today he runs the film industry-sponsored service with the help of his family, as well as finding the time to study at College three days a week.

Dean said 'Winning this award will really help to spread awareness of 'accessible' cinema. It's an especially important one because it's voted for by the general public. It shows that my service makes a real difference to people with a hearing or sight problem. As we get older we may all lose some hearing or sight. We may appreciate services that can help us enjoy sound & vision!'

 

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For press enquiries please contact Dean:
dean@yourlocalcinema.com

Website: http://www.yourlocalcinema.com

 

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You can read coverage of the event HERE

For pictures from the event please click HERE

and HERE

 

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About the 'People’s Choice' Award:

The award was presented in memory of Make Your Mark Ambassador Rob Williams who died in an accident earlier this year. As an Ambassador and business-partner in a very successful venture Rob inspired many other people and was a finalist of the Enterprising Young Brits Awards himself in 2007.