Docklands Based Entrepreneur Wins Business Person of the Year

Docklands based entrepreneur Alexandra Kelly won Business Person of the Year Friday night at the Thames Gateway Business Awards.

At a gala ceremony at the O2 dome, hosted by keynote speaker Lord Falconer, Alexandra was recognised for starting Wapping based Powerchex, a firm which screens job applications for City financial firms.

“I started Powerchex three years ago as one person and a desk, and now we have and buzzing office with 26 people near Tower Bridge. I never thought we’d get this far, but we did it.”

After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean a few years ago on her own sailing yacht, Alexandra landed in the UK from America to take on Britain’s business world. After a short stint working in the City, she found herself redundant with two toddlers at home. That’s when she made the decision to start Powerchex.

Seeking investment, she went to face the BBC’s Dragon’s Den to pitch her business. The Dragons rejected her idea and said it couldn’t be done. Alexandra decided to go for it on her own, hired one employee and found a small office.

Since then her company Powerchex has enjoyed explosive growth, expanding offices three times and attracting some of the nation’s biggest banks as clients.

“Alexandra impressed us from the start”, says John Cox, Senior Director from awards sponsor NatWest Bank. “Not only has she racked up significant achievements in business but she also excels in other areas, like community involvement. We’re glad to have recognised entrepreneurs of her calibre”.

Notes to Editors

About Powerchex
Powerchex is the UK’s premier pre-employment screening firm for financial institutions. Based in the City of London, Powerchex checks the background, employment history, criminal records and professional qualifications of applicants on behalf of financial institutions. It sets the industry benchmark of 5 days for a background check. powerchex.co.uk.
For more information please contact:
Nikela Kapota
0203 004 2279
nkapota@powerchex.co.uk