£60,000 of business services up for grabs for best business ideas

 Business idea competition offers budding entrepreneurs the chance to win a package to help get their new business idea off the ground

Budding entrepreneurs in the North West have the chance to turn their new business idea into reality. Two lucky winners will each get £30,000 worth of start-up services through Ideas Factory – a business ideas competition run by BEX (Business Enterprise Xchange). The competition is part of Business North West, the region’s premier business-to-business exhibition and conference, and will give away services totalling £60,000 during the show on 21-22 November 2007.

Ideas Factory appeals to everyone who’s ever had a new business idea, but lacked the funding and know-how to turn it into reality. The two winners of the competition will receive essential services such as a year’s free office space in Manchester, a year’s free book-keeping, a strategic review from chartered accounts Baker Tilly, a year’s free IoD membership and other benefits1.

Entry details can be downloaded from www.businessnorthwest.co.uk by clicking on seminars and conference, with the closing date on 19 October, 2007.

Last year’s two winners were Kieran Gately, who runs City Card Manchester (www.citycardmanchester.co.uk), a leisure and lifestyle incentive and loyalty card for City Centre outlets and Chi-chi Ekweozor who came up with Real Fresh TV (www.realfresh.tv).

Kieran says, “Winning the Ideas Factory last year has been fantastic and really given City Card Manchester a boost, with revenues increasing month on month following the event. I learnt a great deal from attending the show and the positive press the really helped communicate the concept to our target market in Manchester.”

Chi-chi says, “Ideas Factory is an excellent opportunity for start-ups and those with a business idea that they want to get off the ground. For Real Fresh TV, I’ve benefited in all sorts of ways, from saving money on office rent to having business expertise on hand, which has been invaluable while I was taking my first steps.”

“We’re delighted that Kieran and Chi Chi’s businesses are flourishing and pleased that Ideas Factory has helped to get them both off the ground,” says Marcie Incarico, CEO of Out There Events organisers of the BEX conference. “Ideas Factory is a fantastic opportunity for would-be entrepreneurs. Many of us have watched the likes of Dragons’ Den and thought we could do better, so here’s the chance to turn that idea into a real working business, with many of the services that are integral to a successful start-up.”

The full Ideas Factory package includes:

Services courtesy of Venture Point…
 12 month’s free office space at prime location: Venture Space, One Central Park Manchester
 12 month’s book-keeping service
 Brand design and development
 Investor readiness programme
 Free attendance on business and sales training

As well as…
 A strategic development review from leading chartered accountants, Baker Tilly
 12 month’s IoD membership
 i2m ideas evaluation software from Inventya
 …plus the kudos of being one of the region’s budding up and coming entrepreneurs.

In 2006, Business North West – incorporating the BEX conference – attracted 4,000 visitors and 169 exhibitors from a variety of industry sectors. For further information or to register, visit www.businessnorthwest.co.uk.

ENDS


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 in the B2B market, visitors have the opportunity to hear presentations by the UK’s foremost 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 Institute of Directors and Manchester City Council, with Manchester Evening News on board as media partner.

For more information, please visit www.businessnorthwest.co.uk.

For further information please contact:
Elizabeth West / Philip Szomszor
Berkeley Public Relations
Tel: 01629 826942
Elizabethw@berkeleyprnorth.co.uk