Published on 27 July 2022
The founder and owner of a north-east creative agency is tipped for success in two categories at the prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Fending off competition from over 5,300 entrants nationwide, Jonny Chambers, 28, a TV and Radio production University of Sunderland graduate, hopes to clinch the top spot in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ categories at this year’s ceremony being held at London’s Grosvenor Hotel in November.
Described by the BBC’s Dragon’s Den Steven Bartlett as ‘the Grammys of the business world’, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards offers a platform for leading business lights to showcase their success on a national scale.
The shortlisting comes after a turbulent, yet successful couple of years trading for Sunderland-based Jonarc, which specialises in design, marketing and creativity, for the live entertainment and leisure industries, two sectors that suffered particularly badly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pivoting to broaden its client base into other sectors and offer expertise to a range of clients, the business now counts international cruise lines, Europe’s largest theatrical group and a national TV network among its client base.
Founded in 2016, with support from the University of Sunderland’s Enterprise Place scheme, Jonarc is now settling into new office space in the city’s historic Sunniside Quarter. A member of the North East Chamber of Commerce and the Arts Marketing Association, the business has recently launched its new website to coincide with the move to the new premises.
Commenting on the shortlist announcement, Jonny said: “The last couple of years have been tough for everyone and to see the industry I love so much lurch from one disaster to another was horrendous.
“Staying resilient and adopting a ‘show must go on’ attitude has, thankfully, paid dividends and I’m over the moon to have been shortlisted in two categories at such a prestigious awards ceremony, recognising the hard slog me and my clients have put in over the pandemic.
“I’m so very lucky to work with the people, businesses and organisations I get to work with and I’m eternally thankful to all of the help, support and mentorship I’ve received over the years. We’re a canny bunch in the north-east and I couldn’t be prouder to base my business here.”
Jenny Westgate, Enterprise Operation Co-ordinator at the Enterprise Place, said: “Jonny has been an integral part of the Enterprise Place, joining us in 2017 to develop his creative media agency. He now supports our current student and graduate start-ups by delivering workshops and one-to-one advice to develop their own brands and websites.
“Jonny has achieved so much since starting his journey to the point where he has moved from our hot-desking space in Hope Street Xchange to his own office space in Sunderland City Centre. The Enterprise Place team are incredibly proud of what he has achieved and we wish him the best of luck in the awards and all the success for the future.”
Jonny, from Moorside, spent a number of years broadcasting on the North East’s airwaves as host of Metro Radio’s weekend and drivetime schedules, earning industry accolades and high audience figures. He continues to run Jonarc alongside a daily radio show on the region’s Pride Radio, as well as holding senior marketing positions with leading creative development organisation Generator and Prima Cheese, a UK exporter of pizza cheese.
In addition to his entrepreneurial work, he is also a duty manager for the Theatre Royal in Newcastle and a board member for Sunderland’s professional theatre company Theatre Space North East.
He’s designed social media graphics for the household of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, and created work for a cruise ship.
Most recently Jonny’s work was seen right across the region advertising the popular Hoppings funfair on the Town Moor.
The former Farringdon School pupil was most recently named as a finalist in the Federation of Small Business’ Awards in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category and was previously a finalist in the North East Start Up Awards, returning this year to co-host the awards at the Sage Gateshead.
A win in either category would mark a significant milestone for the entrepreneur who is currently working on an innovative event ticketing start up, which he hopes will revolutionise the ticketing industry.
The Enterprise Place
The project (either has received or is receiving up to) £3,32,6399 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local
areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
Northern Powerhouse
The Northern Powerhouse is a key aspect of this Government’s approach to addressing the productivity gap in the North and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable economy for all parts of the UK. Alongside over €1.5 billion of European Regional Development Fund support for businesses and communities across the North, the government has awarded £3.4 billion in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Northern Powerhouse.