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Government Support for Blueprint

Added 29th Sep 2005

Government minister Barry Gardiner is throwing his support behind the region's enterprising students as they strive for business success. Mr Gardiner, Minister for Competitiveness, is supporting the Blueprint competition, the UK's leading regional university business competition.

Now in its second year, the competition aims to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship in the North-East's five universities, to encourage graduates to set up their own businesses and to stay in the region. The budding entrepreneurs with the two best business ideas to come out of the competition will each walk away with £10,000 in cash, as well as thousands of pounds-worth of other prizes. Already backed by the regional development agency One NorthEast, Blueprint has now also won the Government's seal of approval.

Mr Gardiner said: "I am delighted to lend my support to the Blueprint competition. Turning innovative research into profitable business propositions is vital to a successful UK economy.

"I am aware that there have already been many successful spin-off companies from universities in the North-East of England. These have provided a significant contribution to the economic wealth of the region and the nation, and I am sure that this will be continued by the latest batch of new business ventures.

"The Blueprint awards provide not only a very useful cash injection, but also the recognition of excellence. I wish all the entrants the very best of luck, both in the competition, and with their future business prospects."

Each of the North-East's five universities have held their own competitions to find the best business plans and the winners and runners-up will go forward to the Blueprint Grand Final on October 27 for judges to choose a general Business Winner and a Science and Technology Winner.

The contestants will be helped in drawing up their business plans by a Virtual Business Park, funded by One NorthEast. Believed to be the only service of its kind in the UK, the online facility will contain two buildings which will act as virtual advice centres for finalists.

Apart from ONE, Blueprint is sponsored by a number of leading and innovative North East organisations and businesses. These are: Baker Tilly, Business Link Tyne and Wear, Cenamps, Codeworks, County Durham Development Company, Consett Innovation Centre, Dickinson Dees, National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, Northern Enterprise Ltd, Nstar Finance Ltd, RTC North, The Bridge Club, Women into the Network, Williams Language Solutions plus a number of supporters. The support of these sponsors, and their ongoing commitment to the competition, is essential and plays a vital role in driving innovation in the region.

Competition organiser Professor Max Robinson, Enterprise Education Director at the North East Centre for Scientific Enterprise, said: "It's great that we have got the Government's endorsement for the Blueprint competition. This is a reflection of the importance of graduate entrepreneurs to the future of both the regional and national economies.

"It also underlines the growing recognition of Blueprint's importance in stimulating and celebrating that entrepreneurship. It has been pioneered in the North-East, but it is now making an impression much further afield."

Tickets are now available for the Grand Final of the Blueprint Business Planning Competition. The black-tie Grand Final, taking place on Thursday 27 October at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead, will commence with a champagne and cocktail reception and a chance to meet the finalists face-to-face. Guests will then be seated for a four-course meal, followed by the presentation of the Blueprint 2005 awards by compère for the evening, ITV's Kim Inglis. Once the formalities have ended, guests will have the opportunity to network with finalists and sponsors.

There are still a number of ways to support Blueprint, including sponsorship opportunities for the Blueprint Grand Final event itself. For more information about attending the Grand Final or to discuss sponsorship, please contact Danielle Sawyer at dan@thebgroup.co.uk

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