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Awards for Entrepreneurial Spirit at Inverness College
Budding Duncan Bannatynes are being invited to get their thinking caps on as Inverness College UHI’s CREATE centre launch the UHI Business Idea Competition 2011 – with a whopping £7,000 up for grabs for those who demonstrate the best nose for business.
To enter, competitors have to answer four simple questions: What is your idea? What inspired you? Who are your intended customers? And what do you need to make your business a reality? Open to all residents of the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, who are aged 16 years or over, the competition aims to encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship - all vital skills in the current challenging economic climate. With the competition embracing the latest technology this year, it only takes a couple of clicks on the online entry form to get your idea off the ground.
Finalists will be invited to attend the judging event on November 16th at Inverness College, where in a friendly ‘Dragons’ Den’ style format; they will present their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges. Over 80 guests will meet many regional entrepreneurs at the event, and will be entertained by guest speaker Oli Norman sponsored by Life Scan Scotland Ltd. Oli is a young entrepreneur who has recently set up two Scottish based businesses dada.co.uk and itison.com.
A range of prizes will be available on the night; with winners receiving a share of the £7,000 prize fund as well as expert advice from CREATE, helping them get their business off the ground. Sponsorship is provided by local businesses – Lifescan Scotland Ltd, Robertson Highland, Harper Macleod LLP, Johnston Carmichael, Blake Geoservices, Ankerville Nurseries and the Inverness Courier; and local enterprise development organisations – Business Gateway/Highland Council, Highland Venture Capital, HISEZ; and the UHI.
Now in its sixth year, the competition has a history of past winners going on to start successful businesses, putting their business plans into action with the ongoing support offered by CREATE.
In last year’s competition, Dawn Broadley, 28, from Bruce Avenue in Inverness, scooped first place in both the Best Commercial Idea and Most Innovative Idea categories, for her packed lunch delivery business for school children.
Dawn said: “At the time I entered I never expected that as a single parent with two small children I would ever win a business idea competition. The advice I would give to anyone else is to go for it, no matter how tiny or small your idea seems to be.”
Clive Bowman, 42, from Alyth, also took home a prize last year, winning first prize in the social enterprise category for his business, Community TreeCycle. The business aims to promote greater public engagement with local woodland areas, offering sustainable wood fuel services, volunteering opportunities and woodland skills training.
Clive said: “Winning gave me the boost I needed to take my idea to the next level. I applied to Firstport and was awarded £5000 to set up the business and became a Community Interest Company in April. I'm now part time at college until the end of August and then will be working in Community TreeCycle full time. I have been working with unemployed work placements from Jobcentre plus which as well as giving me support gives people the chance to have a taster of what a forestry and community woodlands job is like.
“The award encouraged me to start up the business, and although the cash prize helped with the initial costs, knowing others thought my idea was credible and worth pursuing, greatly boosted my confidence.”
The CREATE centre was developed with funding from the European Social Fund, The Highland Council, Scotland’s Colleges and Inverness College UHI to help students and graduates increase their enterprising skills and to help individuals start up their own business and become self employed. So far over 500 students have benefitted from the programmes offered at the centre.
CREATE manager and competition organiser Carol Langston, said: "We have been really encouraged to see how much this competition has grown in popularity; since we started in 2006 we have received over 300 entries ideas, with 95 in 2010.
“This year we plan to offer an intensive start-up support day in the weeks following the competition. This will bring together a selection of the region's experts and entrepreneurs to help selected entrants access the best of the region's resources to develop their idea further."
The closing date is 26th October 2011. Apply online at www.createhighland.com, your local UHI centre or by contacting 01463 273 267.
For further information on all courses available at Inverness College UHI please call 01463 273000 or visit www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk.
