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In September, the successful finalists presented to a high-profile panel of judges in order to compete for the coveted national title of Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Judges expect to find an outstanding individual who can best demonstrate exceptional vision and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business. The judging panel will also look for clear identification of a market opportunity, innovation, growth and evidence of strong financial performance in terms of sales and profit growth.

The intense judging process culminates in an Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner hosted by Andrew Marr at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 18th November.

Tristram Mayhew was “surprised and thrilled” to be named as a finalist. He says: “We have been delighted to win leisure and tourism awards for our Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure courses in the past, and it is very flattering to be recognised as a top banana. Creating a wow experience for our customers is what drives us, however being nominated again as one of the top 10 entrepreneurs in the country is a reflection of the exceptional Go Ape team that supports me.

"My wife Rebecca and I started Go Ape to break free from corporate life. We turned our backs on our frequent flying, corporate climbing, urban careers to have high-flying fun in the forests and to raise our chimps on the wild side. Perhaps the judges thought they were looking for ‘on-tree-preneurs’! However, I am extremely pleased – chief gorillas do like an excuse to beat our chests”.

Tristram, together with his wife Rebecca Mayhew were holidaying in France when they discovered a tree top adventure course set deep in the Auvergne National Forest. Research showed there were some 200 similar small-scale courses in France but none in the UK.

Tristram Mayhew explains: “We watched a French family swinging through the tree canopy. Sure the teenage kids were having a grand time of it, but it was the look of 'we haven’t had this much fun in years' on their parents’ faces that convinced us that we should be doing this in the UK.”

Some six and a half years on, Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure courses are now located in seventeen forests across the UK, stretching from the South Coast to Scottish Highlands. Plans for five further courses in 2009 are underway, including the very first course in Wales.

With a mission statement that invites participants to Live Life More Adventurously, this year the company welcomed its Millionth Customer, and is on target to open 40 courses by 2012.

Charity support during 2008 has included the Global Canopy Programme, The Jubilee Sailing Trust, Campaign for Adventure, The Gorilla Organization, the Princes Trust and Duke of Edinburgh, in addition to giving away £40k to local charities and an additional £17k to local charities during its Millionth Customer celebrations.

The aim of The National Business Awards is to reward and recognise excellence, best practice and innovation throughout the UK business community. Judges will be looking for evidence of three key guiding principles in all categories: commercial success, innovation in performance improvement and ethics in respect of legislation, regulation, the environment and the rights of all stakeholders.

In association with The Daily Telegraph, The National Business Awards is becoming the most visible and sought-after endorsements of corporate and individual achievement in the UK. The National Business Awards attract intense interest reflecting the fact that the programme is the first of its kind to cater for all business sector categories and organisations of all sizes, from the achievements of new ventures to FTSE100’s.

Congratulations to all of the short-listed finalists - for further information visit: http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk 

Go Ape is also awarded the coveted Chairman's Commendation for its entry in this year’s Regus Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category and the 3i Growth Strategy of the Year Award.

Available in five innovation-focused categories, this discretionary Award is made by the Chairman of the Judges at the short-listing stage of the judging process.

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Please refer to the following link for further information on the Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award and The National Business Awards: www.nationalbusinessawards.com

www.goape.co.uk

For interviews, images and further quotes from Tristram Mayhew please contact: Honey PR t: 01223 241770 e: Sarah@honeypr.com