Manchester-based Stephen Beech has been shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year category in the Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2011, a nationwide competition.

The national competition is to be judged by businesswoman Karren Brady, who is currently starring in the hit TV show The Apprentice.

Stephen, who set up his company Beech Properties in 2001, is now in with a chance of winning the Entrepreneur of the Year award and scooping the final prize of £2,000 and 50,000 Nectar points.

Stephen set up his company, a green lettings business, after purchasing his first buy-to-let property in Manchester using savings, but he demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age – selling lollipops in the school playground aged eight. Stephen went onto have a successful sales career, before setting up his property business aged 24. Despite having no technical or environmental training, Stephen has built a portfolio of over 80 affordable, green properties that have won him a host of environmental awards and accolades.

Stephen commented: “I am so pleased to have been shortlisted as one of the Nectar Business Small Business Awards Entrepreneurs. Setting up my own business has consumed a huge chunk of my time and energy over the past ten years, but the rewards have been well worth it. Being recognised as an entrepreneur is incredible; it would be an honour to win this category.”

Stephen was just one of many hugely successful and dedicated UK entrepreneurs that entered the Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2011 and his entry will now be judged by a panel of experts, including Karren Brady who will be joined by small business journalist Guy Clapperton, Marketing Director at Nectar, James Frost and Merchandising & Marketing Director for UK and Ireland Office Depot, John O’Keeffe.

James Frost, Marketing Director at Nectar, says: “The Nectar Business Small Business Awards offer the chance for entrepreneurs to demonstrate how they have made their business stand out from the competition through strategic decision making or breaking new ground in business. We’ve been thrilled with the standard of entries this year, and would like to wish all the shortlisted entrepreneurs the best of luck.”