Prize money and mentoring for young entrepreneurs

YOUNG entrepreneurs in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will have a chance to shine and impress a panel of local business experts, by entering a new Young Entrepreneurs’ Competition, sponsored by the organisers of Thame Small Business Saturday.

As part of Small Business Saturday, being held this year on Saturday, December 3, Thame’s organisers are inviting young entrepreneurs under 30, who have a great business idea they want to develop, to pitch to a galaxy of judges. There is no lower age limit, and the competition is open to students as well as to those employed or looking for a job.

Entries can be made by individuals or teams of up to three, and must be on no more than four sides of A4 paper. The business described must be a new idea, not a business already in existence. Up to six images and video clips lasting one minute are also welcome as part of any entry.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges which will include the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Linda Emery, local business entrepreneurs, sales and marketing experts and business advisers. The first prize is £500 cash plus business mentoring, with free business advice for two runners-up.

The competition opened on Monday,September 19, and entries must be made by midnight on Friday, November 4. After shortlisting, the finalists willo pitch to the judges on Small Business Saturday itself, Decembrer 3, and the winners announced on the same day.

All shortlisted candidates can attend a free coaching workshop, run by Semaphora  specialists in helping people achieve their goals.

For more information and to download a competition entry form, go to http://www.thamecentrefirst.org/small-business-saturday.html

Small Business Saturday https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/ is an annual campaign that puts small independent businesses across the country in the national spotlight, with the message ‘Small Business, Big Difference’. If you run a small business (up to £10m turnover), want to support small businesses, or want to start a small business, Small Business Saturday is for you.

In Thame, this year’s event will be bigger than ever, offering a variety of speakers and workshops on themes relevant to small businesses, as well as retailer displays and a window competition. Thame will also be one of the locations the Small Business Saturday Tour Bus which will be touring the UK with 29 stops in five weeks. The Tour Bus comes to Thame on Monday, November 14, and will be based next to Thame Town Hall from 2 pm to 4 pm. There will be lots of activities to welcome the bus, so look out for more information in the next few weeks.