Member Article

North East companies to support budding Tees Valley entrepreneurs

Budding entrepreneurs from across the Tees Valley are being offered the opportunity to win a business support package worth more than £6,000.

‘Strictly New Business’ is being supported by leading Tees Valley companies Henderson Insurance Brokers, Odyssey Systems, V&A Vigar & Co (Darlington), and UK Steel Enterprise (USKE), a Tata Steel subsidiary.

The aim of the competition is to reward the entrepreneurial spirit of the Tees Valley and is aimed at anyone thinking about starting their own business or who recently has become their own boss.

In true reality TV style, a selected number of finalists will feel the pressure when they are invited to present their business proposals in front of a live audience to a panel of respected and established local business people.

Each contestant will be marked by the individual panellists and the person with the most points will win a prize package comprising:

• Free office space for six months, including electricity and gas and water rates, from UK Steel Enterprise;
• Up to a year’s worth of office insurance from Henderson Insurance Brokers;
• Up to a year of Internet access, web hosting and email filtering provided by Odyssey Systems;
• A year’s accountancy support from V&A Vigar & Co.

The judging panel will comprise representatives from the companies providing the prize as well as David Dunn, Headmaster of Yarm School, which is hosting the competition in its performing arts centre.

Founder and Managing Partner at V&A Vigar & Co (Darlington), Amanda Vigar, said: “As experienced business advisers and accountants to small and medium-sized business owners, V&A Vigar & Co (Darlington) has a track record of championing the cause of the owner-manager sector.

“We know how hard it can be in the early days of a business and hope that our contribution to this competition will help a start-up company on the road to business success.”

Director at Henderson Insurance Brokers, Jonathan Willett, said: “Henderson Insurance Brokers prides itself on supporting the wider community and this competition is a great way of helping showcase business talent in Tees Valley.

“Entrepreneurs are vital to the Tees Valley future economic prosperity and I hope this competition will help the winning individual get a foothold on the business ladder.”

Managing Director of Odyssey Systems, Mike Odysseas, said: “This competition is an exciting way of showcasing the business talent of Tees Valley as well as rewarding an individual with an innovative and practical business idea.

“Odyssey Systems hopes that by revealing fresh talent, we also will encourage others to follow their lead because owner/managers and small businesses are the biggest employer in the North of England and the lifeblood of the area’s economy.”

Regional Executive of UKSE, Sarah Thorpe, said: “Nurturing and encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit is important to help diversify and expand the Tees Valley’s economic landscape.

“UKSE is looking forward to helping an inventive and hard-working entrepreneur progress their business ambitions by offering them the opportunity to locate into one of our high quality offices.”

Yarm School Headmaster, David Dunn, said: “There is a need to do more to encourage enterprise and Yarm School is committed to equipping its students with the academic knowledge and life skills that will help them progress, via University or other avenues, , into the world of work.

“Entrepreneurial vision is important to the Tees Valley’s future, which is why we are providing a venue for this competition which should act as a springboard for a fledging company.”

Competitors will pitch their business plans to a judging panel comprising Amanda Vigar, of V&A Vigar & Co (Darlington), Neil Wormald, Henderson Insurance Brokers Group Managing Director, Mike Odysseas, of Odyssey Systems, David Dunn, from Yarm School, and Sarah Thorpe, of UKSE.