SOME of the region's best known entrepreneurs will today pick the finalists in a competition to find some of the most inspiring operators of new North East businesses.
The Entrepreneurs’ Forum has brought together experienced business people for a “Pick our Brains” panel to talk to the entrants in its If We Can, You Can Challenge 2011.
Panelists including Wearside motor trade tycoon and venture capitalist Sir Peter Vardy and the winner of last year’s Challenge Joanna Feeley, who runs growing Newcastle trend forecasting firm Trend Bible, will meet today in Newcastle to choose the finalists.
These two individuals will be officially announced at the annual Entrepreneurs’ Forum Conference next week. The overall If We Can, You Can winner will be decided by a public vote on June 23. Five entrepreneurs have been shortlisted to stand before the panel, which will give each of them the opportunity to introduce their business and demonstrate their passion and drive for making it a success.
They will also be able to ask the panel judges’ questions and tap into the knowledge and experience from entrepreneurs who have established successful, profitable businesses.
The panel also include Charles Reynard, head of Eversheds North East, Jeremiah Alexander of Ideonic and Paul Edwards of Edwards Commercial Cleaning.
They will discuss each entrant’s potential for growth and business sustainability as well as looking for the entrepreneurial characteristics that will inspire others. Previous finalists have reshaped their business models based on the guidance of the panel.
In the past, entrants have also made valuable connections and even secured investment to help move their businesses forward, as a direct outcome of taking part.
The two entrants that the judges feel best embody the region’s spirit of entrepreneurship will be named on May 19 at the Entrepreneurs Forum Conference. Journal readers will then have four weeks to vote for their overall winner.
Sir Peter Vardy said: “It is very important that we do all that we can to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the British economy and the future of the North-East region, and if we are to grow it will be by encouraging these businesses to thrive.
“If the panel can offer valuable advice to new business start-ups in order that they can learn from our experience and make more rapid progress, then we’ll be doing the region as well as these small companies a great service.”
Stephen Green, from the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “The panel is a great opportunity for us to welcome fresh talent into North East’s entrepreneurial community. Our aim at the Forum is simple – to help and inspire entrepreneurs in the North East to grow the most successful businesses possible.
“Our judges today will be looking for the special combination of characteristics that makes entrepreneurs central to the region’s future economic success ... drive, passion, vision, confidence, determination, persistence and most importantly, self-reliance.”
As well as becoming the Journal’s Face of Entrepreneurship for the North East, the winner will claim a prize including a package of business mentoring, guidance and connections tailored for their individual business needs and one year’s membership to the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.
All finalists will become entrepreneurial ambassadors for the region.
