Devon start-ups given £20k investment opportunity

News
09/06/2017

Budding entrepreneurs in Devon are being given the chance to turn their business dream into a reality, with a five-figure investment up for grabs.

Applications for Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards have opened in the region for the first time, after South Molton and Holsworthy-based accountancy firm Davisons recently became part of The Baldwins Group.

The awards encourage 18 to 25-year-olds to present their idea and business plan, with the winner securing £20,000 – a £10,000 grant along with £10,000 worth of mentoring and accountancy advice.

The two runners up will also be presented with £5,000 worth of mentoring and accountancy advice. Applications will be whittled down to ten semi-finalists who will be invited to present their business idea to Baldwins’ senior management.

From here, three lucky finalists will be invited to present their ideas in front of a live audience at a Gala dinner on 16 November 2017 at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The eventual winner is voted for by the audience.

2016 Winners Sophie Kelly and Susie Beere successfully entered Baldwins Kickstart Young Entrepreneur Awards with their idea for a dedicated ski and snowboarding clothing range solely for women, called Snooks.

Sophie said: "Winning this competition means that we can now invest in marketing our brand, getting some sales in and making a success out of Snooks.

"I honestly believe that you make your own opportunities, and if you don't put yourself in positions where you can win competitions like this, then you're reducing your chances of success.

“We would urge anyone starting up a new business to enter for this award as it had a huge impact on our success and it could do the same for you.”

The expansion of the KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards into Devon follows Baldwins’ recent arrival in the region after joining forces with Davisons Chartered Accountants, which has offices in South Molton and Holsworthy.

Matthew Gard, managing director at Davisons Accountants, added: “One of the benefits of joining forces with Baldwins is being able to unlock opportunities like this for the next generation of entrepreneurs in our region.

“While these awards are all about celebrating young entrepreneurs, it also provides us with the chance to offer each entrant advice on how to take their idea to the next level.

“All of the KickStart winners over the past years are doing well, and hopefully this year we can have a few young entrepreneurs from our region in this year’s semi-finals.”

The deadline for entries into the KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards is 31 August 2017. For more information on the KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards visit www.baldwinsaccountants.co.uk