Andrew Gilbert, Managing Director and founder of Britain’s fastest growing data centre company, Node4, has been named as a finalist for the Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the year 2011 award. The national award will be presented to the UK business leader who has shown the most drive and innovation in starting and growing companies in challenging economic conditions.
Gilbert reached the finals after winning the Ernst & Young North and Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in June. The regional award, is presented to the most innovative, dynamic and successful young businessman or woman in the region. Gilbert faces competition from over 40 of the UK’s most entrepreneurial business men and women and the awards will be held at London’s Hilton Park Lane on 3rd October and hosted by Fiona Bruce and attended by business secretary Vince Cable.
As one of the youngest and most successful entrepreneurs in Britain, Andrew said, “I am delighted to get through to the finals of such a prestigious award and whilst a personal achievement it is a reflection of the efforts of my whole team over the past year. Despite a toughening economy, 2012 is going to be very exciting for Node4 and we are already planning our fifth data centre with a sixth also on the cards. The future of cloud computing and data centre technology is rapidly evolving and I anticipate the continuous growth of UK’s market to remain strong for the foreseeable future.”
Andrew has often been complimented on his foresight and ability to envision trends ahead of the curve. His competitive edge stems from the execution of his strategy to provide his clients with a ‘data centres on the door step’ approach, and has secured him the crown of Britain’s largest independent provider of data centres. With a turnover of £11m in a span of only seven years, Node4 is transforming the data centre market in Britain, preparing to go live with its fifth data centre based in the outskirts of Birmingham.
