Enter the University of East Anglia Business Plan Competition
for a chance to win a life-changing prize

Enter now

Prizes include

  • Internship with Hotel Chocolat in St Lucia and £4000 in-kind business start-up support
  • 1 week internship with Hotel Chocolat at their UK Headquarters
  • 2 day intensive internship with Hotel Chocolat at their UK Headquarters
  • 5 x £100 prizes for best first round entries

About

Students* from the University and Norwich Research Park (NRP) are welcome to apply. You can enter as an individual or team up with friends or colleagues. See our terms and conditions for full details..

Your entries may be a development of scientific research, not for profit social enterprise, eco-friendly invention, lifestyle business or just new ways of doing old business – anything goes so think creatively.

After reviewing all applications, our judges will select 10 finalists who will be invited to present their business idea on 31st March 2011. The 10 finalists will be supported through the development of their business idea by a business mentor – selected from a panel of leading regional businesses the mentors will help you to refine your business idea and ensure you are ready to pitch to the judges on the 31st March.

Any individual or Group from the School of Biological Sciences will automatically be entered into the BIO Business Plan Competition. The competition will run in parallel to the main UEA competition.

Following the first round we will notify all BIO entrants of arrangements for the BIO final. If shortlisted you will also be able to pursue your main competition entry – so you could win twice.

* undergraduate and postgraduate students – up to and including Phd level..

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The Panel

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Prizes

We recognise that in the current economic climate starting a business will be challenging and therefore our package of prizes has been designed to help improve the chance of your business succeeding.

This year there will be 5 first round winners – we will pick the 5 best first round entries – each winning £100.

1st prize
At the final on the 31st March 2011 we select the overall winner who will receive a business start-up package, which will include:

One week internship at Hotel Chocolat resort at their Rabot Estate Caribbean – all travel and accommodation cost will be met and you will spend time working within and learning from this leading organisation.*

On your return you will then have the opportunity to work with our sponsors who can help you develop your business idea further, this will include:

Brand Consultancy workshop with The Click Design Consultants.

Quarterly reviews with an MBA qualified Barclays Local Business Manager and access to detailed Barclays research on 100`s of business issues, as well as free credit checking, data back up facilities and extended commission free banking.

Subsidised consultations with Marketing and Legal Professionals and introductions to the next work of Barclays specialists covering International Trade, invoice discounting and corporate financial advice. Courtesy of Barclays Bank, worth £1000.

Free legal advice (up to a maximum value of £1000) to assist in the early stage business with any legal queries, for example non-disclosure agreements, IP, fund raising, people matters or any other issues that may arise. Courtesy of Mills & Reeve.

Free accountancy and taxation advice up to the value of £1000 courtesy of Lovewell Blake.

2nd prize
1 week internship with Hotel Chocolat at their UK Headquarters, Huntingdon including accommodation.

3rd prize
2 day intensive internship with Hotel Chocolat at their UK Headquarters, Huntingdon including accommodation.

(Please see terms and conditions: No cash alternative. Design work only. Excludes any printing, hosting, technical development, domain registration or photography fees.)

* The internship experience will be for one person – team entries will have to select one team member to attend.

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Tips & Advice

Your Entry
We have purposely limited the number of words allowed in the entry –
you will need to sell your idea creatively – capture the judge’s imagination and concisely summarise why your idea will succeed.

Executive Summary
· What is it? (service/product/invention)
· How is your idea unique?
· How will it make money?

Business Concept
· Market potential: Who will buy it? Why will they buy it? What is the market need? How big is the market?
· Can they get it anywhere else? Initial market research/who are your competitors?
· How will you reach your market?
· How will you generate profits?
· What do you need to succeed (investment)?
· Why is yours a winning idea?

Supporting Notes
· Who are the partners – Who will provide the service/product/invention?
· Marketing action plan
· Include a brief financial plan and potential returns on investment.

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Timetable

Launch:
November 2010

Student Enterprise Survey
(to be eligible for the Business Plan Competition
entrants must complete the Enterprise Survey)
17th November to 17th December 2010

Submission deadline for business ideas:
17th December 2010

Announcement of Top Ten finalists:
18th January 2011

Final Pitch:
31st March 2011

(All decisions of the organisers and judges are final. If requested,
feedback will be provided).

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Contact us

If you have any queries regarding the competition, please
contact the Research, Enterprise and Engagement Office:

T: 01603 591574
E: business at uea dot ac dot uk

 

 

 

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