A SEARCH has started to find the North-East's most promising new entrepreneur.
The winner of The Evening Gazette’s fifth If We Can, You Can Challenge 2012, launching on February 6th, will be crowned with the prestigious title and receive a unique package of support to help them build their business.
The IWCYC Challenge, run by the North-east’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum, is supported by Eversheds, PwC and Yorkshire Bank and is open to anyone who is thinking of starting a business, in the early stages of running their own business or expanding an existing enterprise.
Nigel Mills, chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “In the years that we have run the If We Can, You Can Challenge its aims of identifying and fostering talent have never been more relevant.
“The growth of the private sector is critical to the region’s economic future and the Challenge helps to meet that need by supporting new entrepreneurs and presenting the winner with a money-can’t-buy package of mentoring and practical help to develop their business.”
Candidates are being encouraged to enter early since a number will be featured in The Evening Gazette in the coming weeks.
Nigel said the finalists would benefit from the founding principles of the Forum – to encourage entrepreneurs, support emerging talent, share experiences, make connections and to learn from and be inspired by others.
He added: “We believe the region is full of untapped potential and that all people need is the motivation to push themselves forward, safe in the knowledge that there are like-minded entrepreneurs on hand to help and a business community ready to welcome them.”
The IWCYC Challenge was first established in 2008 and has gone on to attract more than 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs to the web-based community at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk
Past Evening Gazette winners and other entrants are backing the 2012 Challenge, describing what they gained from the experience and encouraging people to enter this year.
Since winning last year’s Challenge, Louise Moore’s business, Innov8 Disposal, which has filled a gap in helping organisations comply with strict rules on the disposal of IT equipment, has gone from strength to strength.
The company now employs nine people in Stockton and is highly regarded by clients across the region.
Louise said: “I entered to get the company recognised within the North-east and I really believe with all of the press coverage and support from Forum members this has happened.
“Being in the forum has also helped open doors to clients that we wouldn’t have dared to approach previously.”
Chris Petty has grown his business, Cornerstone Business Solutions, by 65% since he won the 2010 Challenge.
Now one of the leading suppliers of business-critical systems across the UK, the multi award winning Stockton-based company employs 11 people.
Through a number of strategic partnerships and sub-contracting deals, Cornerstone’s turnover is set to grow rapidly in the next two years as it goes national.
Louise Bell won the Challenge in 2009 with her spray tan party business, Healthy Glow.
She has franchised the business and also now runs her own Tanning and Beauty Academy.