Now in its seventh year, the University of the West of England's theBizIdea Competition keeps on growing and attracting brilliant ideas from the campus tycoons of the future. This year, there was a new Creative Design Idea Prize to add to the awards for Best Business Idea, Best Social Enterprise and Best Marketing Award.
Winner of the Best Business Idea prize was Carolyn Newton with her idea for foldable eco-friendly shopping bags, called Whalebags. Carolyn said, I can't wait for the next step in my business. Supermarket chains have already shown interest so the prize money and business mentoring will help Whalebags reach a wider market.
Other winning ideas included Caroline Sargeant's Bristol Community Festival promoting music, art and culture in the South West, which was judged Best Social Enterprise Idea and Andrew Harrison of Bomb Production's free DVD magazine for Bristol which won the Best Creative Design Idea award.
Runners-up were a private investigation agency by Roxanne Magee (runner-up, Best Business Idea), Daniel Morgan's incentive scheme for students who volunteer (runner-up, Best Social Enterprise Idea) and Rachel Horrocks' design company, Basic Baroque (runner-up, Best Creative Design Idea).
The competition is run by UWE's Research, Business and Innovation group (RBI) and entrants had stiff competition with the prospect of glittering prizes. The three top prizes each offer a cash award of £5,000 and a year's rent-free space in UWE's city centre business incubator. There is a special Chartered Institute of Marketing award for the entry with the best marketing element, which went to Lauren Tobia of Stretch Illustration, runners-up awards and merit awards for the other best shortlisted ideas.
Inspirational keynote speaker at the event was Adam Goodyer, co-founder of Concert Live, which specialises in 'instant' live CDs, records music concerts and allows waiting fans to take home high quality CD copies just ten minutes after the last note has been played. Concert Live won the HSBC 2007 Start-Up Stars competition and Adam said, "Competitions like UWE's theBizIdea are a great way to encourage creativity and a spirit of enterprise among students."
Other successful entrepreneurs who spoke eloquently of their experiences in setting up a new business or social enterprise were Patrick Dasoberi, a previous BizIdea winner, with Community Portal International Ltd; Claire Foster, winner of a Prince's Trust Award for her juice and smoothie bar Superjuice, and Sally Lincoln of Nomensa which produces award-winning websites and user experience consultancy.
This year theBizIdea Competition's sponsors, who are crucial to its success are Business Link, Haseltine Lake, Lloyds TSB, Osborne Clarke, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Book Check, The Directors' Centre, Glasses Direct, ISG Pearce, Jordans, Kinneir Dufort, SPark, Spike Design, SXS Events and the University of the West of England. Besides providing financial support they provide timely and extremely valuable advice to support the business, social enterprise and creative ideas.
Roger Wilkins, Business Link Start-Up Manager said, Business Link is delighted to be working with UWE to share our knowledge and experience with entrepreneurs through theBizIdea Competition. We aim to provide the guidance that new business startups often need to give them the best chance of success."
-ENDS-
Editor's notes
The full list of winners and prizes in UWE's theBizIdea Competition is:
Best Business Idea - £5000 + one year in UWE incubator - Carolyn Newton: Whalebags
Business Idea Runner-up - £2500 - Roxanne Magee: Magee Private Investigations
Best Social Enterprise Idea - £5000 + one year in UWE incubator - Caroline Sargeant: The Bristol Community Festival Group
Social Enterprise Idea Runner-up - £2500 Daniel Morgan: theVScheme
Best Creative Design Idea - £5000 + one year in UWE incubator - Andrew Harrison: Bomb Productions
Creative Design Idea Runner-up - £2500 - Rachel Horrocks: Basic Baroque
Best Marketing Prize - CIM course worth £500 plus one year's affiliate membership - Lauren Tobia: Stretch Illustration
3 Merit Awards of £100 for outstanding entries who impressed the judges with their enthusiasm and drive:
Michael Bull Open Faculty Social Enterprise
Keith Probert Viimi Business
Lauren Tobia Stretch Illustration Creative Design
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Now in its seventh year, the University of the West of England's theBizIdea Competition keeps on growing and attracting brilliant ideas from the campus tycoons of the future. This year, there was a new Creative Design Idea Prize to add to the awards for Best Business Idea, Best Social Enterprise and Best Marketing Award. 