1998 - Jennifer and Victoria Frame (Victor J's)

The 1998 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Yorkshire) was won by Jennifer and Victoria Frame and their business Victor J's.

Very often “eureka” moments come at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected places. For Jennifer Frame, it was the combination of a part-time job in a coffee shop and regular meetings with her sister in the beautiful city of York that sparked her business idea.

Studying at universities in Glasgow and Birmingham meant York was a convenient halfway point for the two sisters to meet, catch up and share a coffee. They fell in love with the city and decided it was the perfect place to launch their business idea.

With Jennifer’s experience of working in a coffee shop, and belief that her idea would work, she teamed up with her sister, Victoria, to open the city’s first Arts Café, Victor J’s in 1997. Ten years later, the business has grown to employ 10 staff with an annual turnover in excess of £350,000.

Recent developments for Victor J’s include the purchase of their premises, extending and redeveloping the upstairs to offer a second bar and dining area, and the future looks bright.

Win Funding for your Business

To find out more about how you could be walking away with the £10,000 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award please go to our Awards page.