Belfast City Council has launched a competition to help fast track the “best business ideas in Belfast.”
The Belfast Business Idea Award will “assess the strength of the idea, rather than the achievements of the venture so far.”
This means that people who have yet to set up a business have as much chance of winning as those who have already started to trade successfully.
Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Peter McReynolds launched the initiative along with Aisling Press from Danske Bank and Daniel Glover from Pacem Accounting & Tax Advisory.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Lord Mayor encouraged people who have a business idea, or those who have already started up and have been trading for less than one year to take the time to enter for the award online.
The overall winner will receive £2,500 cash plus a support package worth over £3,000.
Two runners-up will also receive a support package worth over £3,000 which includes nine months Innovation Factory membership (involving co-working space and bespoke business mentoring), nine months free accountancy and software services from Pacem and a free place on the Digital Marketing Communications course at Ulster University.
The deadline for applications is noon on Thursday 31st October. All applicants will be invited to Finalists’ Night at Danske Bank, Donegall Square West on Tuesday 19th November when the three winning ideas will be announced with each winner being given 120 seconds to pitch for the overall £2,500 cash prize.
The competition is open to those who have a business idea but have not yet acted on it, those who are in the process of starting up and those who are in business and have been trading for less than one year.
Applicants must be over 16 years old and reside within the Belfast City Council area or a have a business registered in Belfast.
