University News Last updated 09 May 2013
A social enterprise and events entrepreneur from Digbeth is celebrating after winning the Entrepreneurial category at last week's Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) 2013 awards.
Part of Birmingham Futures, this year's BYPY event took place on Thursday 2 May and is a highly prestigious awards ceremony that recognises and rewards the most talented individuals within Birmingham’s business community.
Daniella Genas, a graduate from Birmingham City University's School of Media and CEO of Aspire4U, an events management and youth training company founded in 2007, beat off tough competition to be hailed as the winner of the Entrepreneurial category. Other winners on the night came from organisations such as Deutsche Bank, Brewin Dolphin and Higgs & Sons, making Daniella’s win a great achievement amongst some heavy weights within Birmingham.
Daniella said: "I am overwhelmed. It is truly an honour to be recognised and I thank the BYPY team for choosing me. It was great having Birmingham City University there to support me.
“The competition was stiff so it is an even more amazing win for me. Being the only woman to win out of the eight categories is also a great achievement.”
Cliff Allan, Vice Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “I am delighted with Daniella Genas’ success in winning this prestigious accolade. Daniella really deserves this recognition for her dedicated work as a social entrepreneur - she is an inspiration for young professionals across Birmingham and beyond. The University is very proud of her.
“Because we see ourselves as the ‘university for Birmingham’ Daniella perfectly highlights how Birmingham City University is committed to producing talented and dynamic graduates, helping them to develop their entrepreneurial talents so they gain more than just a degree, and in Daniella’s case go on to contribute so much to the city’s community and economy.
Aspire4u is a not for profit events management company that invests all profits into training and development opportunities for disadvantaged young people in Birmingham.
The company has helped to put on a number of high-profile events in the city – including a fashion and talent show as part of the Jamaica in the Square festival in Birmingham City Centre, the finale event for the Birmingham Made Me design awards, the Music Video and Screen Awards ceremony for the Black International Film Festival, and marketing support for The Drum arts centre in Newtown, Birmingham.