The theatre, which is run by Mehmet Ergen, Leyla Nazli and Dr Ben Todd, aims to be the world's first carbon neutral theatre. The installation of a fuel cell in February 2008 made the venue the first in the world to power its main house shows and bar/café on hydrogen.
Other winners of Growing Business Awards include several household names. Will King, founder of King of Shaves, collected the Company of the Year award. Judges felt that King's men's grooming brand had proved that constant innovation was the key to continued growth. This year, the company he set up in his kitchen 15 years ago, launched Azor - the first British made, engineered and designed system razor for more than 100 years.
Linda Bennett, founder of the £60m LK Bennett chain of shops, was voted Entrepreneurs' Entrepreneur by readers of Real Business magazine and www.realbusiness.co.uk. After opening her first shop aged 26 with £13,000 of savings, she sold a majority stake to a private equity firm earlier this year, netting her £70m.
Attendees included William Hague MP; Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI; John Caudwell; Gerry Ford, chairman, CEO and founder of Caffe Nero; Sir Terence Conran; Lord Swraj Paul, founder and chairman of the Caparo Group; John Madejski, chairman of Reading FC and Dragons Den's Theo Paphitis.
Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, said: "In tougher economic times, it pays to keep an eye on the longer-term, and plan for growth when the upturn comes. That's why the Growing Business Awards is so important, helping to identify the next generation of business leaders, inspiring us with their ingenuity and skill, and giving us hope and confidence in the future."
The Growing Business Award is the latest in a string of Awards for The Arcola Theatre during 2008.
(Lee Baldock)
