Member Article

Biz Idol hotshots pitch to win

A city centre locker room to store coats and umbrellas on a night, a socially conscious FairTrade school uniform company and a recording centre for the region’s untapped singing talent are some of the ideas that have made it through to the semi finals of a business competition this weekend.Ten hot-shot hopefuls have been chosen from hundreds of exciting business ideas for the semi-finals of this year’s Biz Idol competition. Part of Business Week Tyne & Wear, Biz Idol gives aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to turn their ideas into reality, returning this year with an even bigger and better prize pot that could literally allow the winner to start their new business overnight.Saturday’s semi-finals will see each hopeful take part in a nerve-wracking live pitch to a judging panel of top local entrepreneurs. The prize for winning is an astounding support package featuring essential start-up support, expert consultancy and £2000 cash to help them start their company immediately (plus £500 each to two runners-up).However the adults share some serious competition as the entrants for the new Biz Idol U18 competition have blown away the judges with ideas from the 6 teenage semi-finalists including a rural paper delivery business and Zipped – a new adventure sports concept.The finals of Biz Idol and Biz Idol U18 will see three entrants from each competition go head-to-head at the Big Day Event at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on 6 July. For more information about Biz Idol and the Big Day Event visit: www.business-week.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .