Eleven brilliant businesses from across Beds, Herts and Bucks have been shortlisted in the Premier Newspapers’ Local Business Accelerators competition.
More than 50 young companies entered for the chance to win free mentoring from business gurus and advertising in local papers in the Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and Aylesbury area.
Publishing company Premier Newspapers has teamed up with three top business gurus in the region who had the mammoth task of whittling the entrants down to 11 for the next stage of the competition.
Business author Kim Hills Spedding, from Woburn, helped more than 3,500 firms to start up as chief executive of the Oxfordshire Enterprise Agency and another 1,000 with other local chambers of commerce. Mr Hills Spedding has published a book The Really Practical Guide To Starting Up Your Own Business.
Dr Philip Smith, of the Milton Keynes Business Leaders and Richard Cooper, director of ASA Business Development & Quality Management Systems, in Dunstable, make up our team of experts.
The eventual winners could go on to scoop a huge national prize of free advertising, mentoring from Dragons Den TV star Deborah Meaden and a £10,000 prize from the Business Growth Fund. Some 500 local newspapers are taking part in the competition organised by the Newspaper Society.
The following businesses go through to a Dragons Den-style next stage of the competition:
1. Dragon Information Systems Ltd, Bassett Court, Newport Pagnell.
2 Cake DIY, Barn Field Close, Biggleswade.
3 Horsewyse CIC, Westfield Road, Long Crendon, near Aylesbury.
4 Care Harmony Solutions, Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury.
A Penn PR PR, Waddesdon, near Aylesbury.
6 Urban Precinct Multi Media Social Enterprise, South Hill Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead
7 Solutions Laser Clinic, High Street, Leagrave, Luton
8 Divine Natural Ltd, Benson Close, Luton
9 Irondaisy Ltd Recycling, Clarke Road, Mount Farm, Milton Keynes.
10 bizyplay limited, Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes.
11 Sucup Ltd, Cosgrove, Milton Keynes.