Derrick Wilkinson’s renewable technology installation business, GR33N Limited, has been announced as a finalist for this year’s UK Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards. The national awards scheme celebrates innovative and growing businesses that have taken off with the help of alternative finance from community lenders (known as CDFIs).

Based in Doncaster, Derrick has grown the firm from a small family run business to a pioneering, multi-million pound turnover company. GR33N now employs 20 staff, and its work has saved over 9,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the last year. The business was able to expand thanks to a £50,000 loan from local CDFI Finance For Enterprise.

The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards are run in over 30 countries by the Citi Foundation, and they have teamed up with the Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) to bring them to the UK.

Ben Hughes, Chief Executive of the CDFA, said:

“The UK clearly has a wealth of dynamic, innovative entrepreneurs. And all of the great businesses on our shortlist have been helped to success by their local community lender. We are also championing these CDFIs that have lent where the banks haven’t, and turned the dreams and determination of entrepreneurs into livelihoods, profit, growth and jobs. ”

Arthur Foreman, Managing Director at Finance For Enterprise, said:

” We were happy that we could invest in an early stage business with genuine growth potential and it’s great news they have been shortlisted for this award.”

The winners of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on 4th March 2015 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. The winners will share prize money of £57,000.