Member Article

If We Can You Can returns to boost budding North East entrepreneurs and startups

North East startups are being encouraged to get involved in this year’s If We Can You Can challenge.

Now in its ninth year, the competition has helped hundreds of early-stage entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.

Open to any North East business less than three years old, with a special category for great business ideas, the competition is an opportunity for emerging businesses to gain recognition and contacts needed to help them scale.

Caroline Davies is the founder and director of Tumbles and Grumbles. The business, which provides paediatric first aid training for parents, grandparents and children, was awarded Overall Winner at last year’s challenge.

Caroline said: “If We Can You Can was a great opportunity for me to gain some additional exposure for the business within the wider business community. It helped me connect with accountants, video editors and other organisations who have helped me better invest in my business.”

This year If We Can You Can challenge will be focusing on three categories: Companies that will make a big social impact, A ‘best business idea’ category and Businesses that have high growth-potential.

There will be three rounds with the Ideas Prize final held in October and the grand final held at BALTIC: Centre for Contemporary Art on November 15.

Charlotte Windebank, MD of FIRST Face to Face, said: “Last year with the help of our partners, we were able to reach out to 123 new businesses in our region and received over 100 offers of support from the North East business community.

“This year we want more people to be involved to create more impact and most importantly a lasting legacy for these businesses to thrive in our communities.”

Carl Haagensen, Entrepreneur Development at NatWest, which is supporting this year’s event, added: “If You Can We Can is a fantastic initiative that is supporting the enterprise communities across the North East, and we are delighted to support this year’s challenge.”

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