Lloyds Bank reminds the entry deadline for its 2014 Enterprise Awards application closes on 23 July 2014

• Entry deadline for Lloyds Bank Enterprise Awards closes in a month on 23 July 2014.
• Entrants will be considered in three categories at a regional and national level for Best Start-up, Best Enterprise and Best Digital (a new category for 2014).
• Awards include one-to-one mentoring, legal advice and cash investments of up to £50,000.

LONDON, 23-6-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Britain’s best student and graduate entrepreneurial talent only has one month left to apply to the Lloyds Bank 2014 Enterprise Awards as the deadline of 23 July 2014 marches closer.

The awards celebrate and recognise the top businesses of tomorrow and are open to entrepreneurs currently studying at universities across Britain or who have graduated within the past five years and have been trading for more than one year.

The competition is part of the Bank’s commitment to helping UK businesses prosper and supporting enterprise and start-ups.

Jen Tippin, Managing Director, Retail Business Banking said: “As the economy starts to grow again we’re seeing a number of start-ups led by passionate entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and a real hunger to succeed. The Enterprise Awards recognise and celebrate this entrepreneurial talent from our graduates and universities across the UK.

“There’s only one month to go until the deadline for entries closes and I don’t want anyone to miss out. The awards are a great launch pad for any start-up with free publicity, a cash investment, valuable mentoring and guidance available for winners. So take the opportunity to apply now and help make your dream of running your own business a reality.”

The initial heats will take place in September across the UK and the winners of each heat will go through to the Grand Final in Edgbaston on Wednesday October 15. An expert business panel – including Tim Campbell, former Apprentice winner and founder of the Bright Ideas Trust – will judge the finalists.

Tim Campbell said: “Starting a business on your own is never easy and the challenges are well documented. But the Enterprise Awards could provide that huge break you are looking for to get your business off the ground.

“Cash prizes aside, the mentoring and expertise that is available to winners is a huge asset for start-ups. A mentor is like a driving instructor who can help you become proficient at a skill while you are still driving the vehicle. They provide feedback and direction when required. I’d urge everyone to apply as part of the next step in building their empire.”

Last year’s winner for overall Best Start-up was ASAP Water Crafts – a company which is developing life-saving equipment for beach lifeguards. Last year’s winner for overall Best Enterprise was BBOXX, a company that provides people in Africa and Asia with solar-powered battery boxes. BBOXX has used the Awards as a great launch pad to develop its products, find new business contacts and reach new customers.

Chris Baker-Brian, co-founder of BBOXX said: “Winning best enterprise in 2013 has allowed BBOXX to invest in the development of new technology, such as remote monitoring, which will allow our products and services to be more widely available and accessible to consumers in the developing world. The mentoring sessions were really useful to understand our position in the value chain and how to structure the company’s growth.”

A new category for this year includes Best Digital which recognises those businesses that have demonstrated the value of digital to the business bottom line and the customer experience. This is part of Lloyds Banking Group’s commitment to improving digital skills in the UK and as a proud founder of Go ON UK – the digital skills charity.

ENDS

Notes to Editors
1. For more information please contact Ed Smith on 0207 661 4936.
2. To find out more information and see the eligibility criteria please visit
www.lloydsbank.com/enterpriseawards for England and Wales or
www.bankofscotland.co.uk/enterpriseawards for Scotland.
3. There will be five initial heats across Britain in September where the Awards will identify the following:

• Best Start-up – will be awarded to a business which has been running for less than three years and has the potential to grow into a profitable business;
• Best Digital – will recognise those businesses that have demonstrated the value of digital to the business bottom line and the customer experience;
• Best Enterprise – will be awarded to the business who demonstrates innovation and shows real potential to grow over the next five years to become a recognised business within its respective sector.

4. The following prizes will be on offer for the Enterprise Awards 2014:

Initial Heats:

• £1,000 for the Best Start-up
• £1,000 for the Best Digital
• £5,000 for the Best Enterprise
• One-to-one local business mentoring

Grand Final:

• £10,000 for the Overall Best Start-up
• £50,000 for the Overall Best Enterprise
• Time with several leading industry digital marketing experts for the overall Best Digital worth over £10,000
• Senior Executive Mentoring

All winners will receive expert legal advice through LawNet.

5. The five initial heats will be during September for these areas:

South West and Wales                       9 September – University of Exeter
London and the South East             TBC
North England                                      16 September – Leeds Metropolitan University
Scotland                                                  17 September – Edinburgh University
Central England                                   23 September – Nottingham Trent University