Business Competition for Bright Sparks

Business minds with bright ideas could win themselves £1,000.

The Business Enterprise Support Team (BEST) has launched the 2004 Business Idea Awards Scheme, which is open to all staff, students and recent graduates of Lancaster University, The University of Salford, and Manchester Metropolitan University

To enter the competition applicants must submit a four to five - page business case outlining their idea for a new business or product. The top prize of £1,000 will go to the most innovative, creative and viable idea with up to five runners-up receiving prizes of £500 each.

Last year’s winners, David Kreps and Peter Hocking of fourquarters Information Solutions Ltd are trading successfully after receiving their prize money plus advice from BEST business advisers and prestigious consultancy firm KPMG. Their web development, consultancy and training company has secured a number of contracts with public sector clients and is based at Salford’s Technology House incubation unit.

Whatever your idea, you could be eligible to win. Previous years’ prizes have gone to: a fashion designer; artists’ studio; designer of a new exercise machine; theatre company and a translation agency. Each of these ideas has since been developed into a fully-fledged business with support from BEST and a team of advisors.

The closing date for this year’s competition is July 31, 2004. If you have a good idea that you would like to make a reality, contact the BEST Office now for an information pack.

Tel: 0161 295 0464, Email: m.young@salford.ac.uk.