IDEAS FACTORY WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT BUSINESS NORTH WEST

The competition was part of Business North West, the region’s premier business-to-business exhibition and conference, which attracted over 4,000 visitors to Manchester Central. The lucky winners will receive valuable business services such as office space and training to help get their new ideas off the ground.

Originally from Bury, Tracey, has fifteen years’ experience as a professional public art practitioner. She impressed judges with her mosaic stepping-stone kit, which enables people to create their very own personalised piece of mosaic for the patio or garden.

Tracey comments, “Winning the competition is fantastic and will help my business development, especially in production and marketing, both areas that I lack knowledge. I want to make my tried and tested mosaic technique with the public - art is far too important to be confined within galleries alone and having a go yourself is so much fun.”

Winning on day two of the show, Carole Fossey has developed a handbag website, offering exclusive bags that are only otherwise available in-store at Harrods. She is also developing two other websites, offering shoes and jewellery.

Self-confessed ‘shoe-aholic’, Carole says, “I am delighted to have won this competition. Even though I have a history in business, I feel that by winning I will be able to learn in areas that I need to improve upon, such as brand design and brand development.”

“It’s great to be able to help businesses in the North West take off, supported by the prizes awarded as part of Ideas Factory,” says Marcie Incarico, CEO of Out There Events, organisers of the BEX conference. “As winners from last year’s event testified, getting a new idea off the ground is only the first step and we’re delighted to be able to help Carole and Tracey turn their ideas into profitable businesses.”

Both winners of the competition received essential business services from Venture Point which includes a year’s free office space in Manchester, a year’s free book-keeping service, brand design and development, an investor readiness programme and free attendance at business and sales training. In addition each winner also won a strategic review from chartered accounts Baker Tilly, a year’s free IoD membership, i2M software from Inventya and training in lateral thinking by The Edward de Bono Foundation.

About Business North West
Business North West, incorporating the BEX conference, is the region’s biggest and boldest business-to-business exhibition, attracting thousands of decision makers, managers and directors to Manchester every year.

As well as showcasing the region’s leading companies servicing the business-to-business market, visitors have the opportunity to hear presentations by the UK’s leading business figures, attend workshops and take part in networking sessions.

Business North West is run by Nationwide Exhibitions, which has been holding consumer and trade shows throughout the UK since 1983. Business North West works in partnership with Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, with support from Manchester Solutions, Institute of Directors, Business Link and Manchester City Council, with Manchester Evening News on board as media partner.

For more information, please visit www.businessnorthwest.co.uk or contact Scott Hider on 0117 907 1000