TEL: 03450 450 500
Contact: Nicole Kritzinger
Economic Development Officer (This link will open in a new window)
COMPETITION SPONSORS
Step Up Business Competition
South Cambridgeshire District Council's (SCDC) Step-Up Business Competition delivered further success culminating in the final event on 15 September 2011.
Designed to promote business start-up creativity and innovation, Step Up encourages local people to take an entrepreneurial step forward to establish new business ideas and initiatives.
L-R: Gareth Brookman, Sophie Cattier, Danny Bellew, Jenny Cattier, Quentin Golder, Cllr Wright, John Bridge, Walter Herriot, Alan Blake and Carol Deslandes
Six budding businesses made it to the final of South Cambridgeshire District Council's Step Up competition to face the judges and pitch for £30,000 worth of business backing. Jenny and Sophie Cattier were announced the winners with their Cambridge Super Foods business (above and below).
The winners walk away with significant private sector sponsorship, one year's office accommodation, legal, accountancy and public relations support, and business mentoring. This is all thanks to the support by the Cambridge News and sponsored by Business Link, Ware Anthony Rust, Regus, Taylor Vinters, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce , Streets Chartered Accountants and Walter Herriot.
L-R: Gareth Brookman, Quentin Golder, Danny Bellew, Lara Kettenacker, Cllr Wright, John Bridge, Walter Herriot, Alan Blake and Carol Deslandes
The calibre of entrants was excellent and the competition was so close that the judges and sponsors very generously announced a runner-up business support prize of for Lara Kettenacker and her United Brides business (above and below).
Portfolio holder with responsibility for economic development Cllr Nick Wright said:
At SCDC we are only too aware of the challenges faced by start-up businesses in these challenging economic times and the importance of continued business growth. Together with our partners we are working hard to help businesses gain access to finance and professional advice to stimulate activity in the local market.
The judges...
- John Bridge, Chairman of the competition and CEO of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Chambers of Commerce
- Alan Blake, Streets Chartered Accountants
- Quentin Golder, Taylor Vinters Solicitors
- Danny Bellew, Regus
- Walter Herriot, Innovation & Enterprise Champion
- Carol Deslandes, Business Link
- Gareth Brookman, Ware Anthony Rust
Looked for...
CREATIVITY
The applicant and business is innovative, shows new approaches to familiar markets, seeks solutions to overcome problems, uniqueness.
PLANNING & RESEARCH
A well thought out business plan, risk analysis, anticipation of market change, competition analysis, investment, budget and cost analysis.
MARKET AWARENESS
An understanding and good fit in chosen market, market testing, competition analysis, use of ecommerce, awareness and potential of foreign markets, relevant personal experience of markets.
COMMITMENT
To realise the business irrespective of whether it wins, determined to succeed, resilient to change (e.g in changing economy), sustainable and viable business, displays good business and financial acumen.
SALEABILITY
Product/service(s) are good quality, tested, ready for sale, fit for purpose, well thought through sales and marketing plan and activities, contracts / orders in place, product/service is commercially viable.
They're all winners...
Entrants were invited to take part in free Business Link workshops that helped new business start ups formulate their ideas, and give them skills to help them for the competition and beyond.
Positive feedback from participants has already yielded results. A potential new company said:
I did find the participation very useful, both the workshop and the application process have helped clarify how we should be approaching things and also raised questions that we need to answer.
Advice for Start-Ups
For further advice, businesses may wish to seek some start-up information for their plans at: www.businesslink.gov.uk/east_england.html (This link will open in a new window).
