The University of Bristol’s New Enterprise Competition is designed to inspire new high growth business ideas and entrepreneurial talent.  Launched every autumn, the competition is open to students, staff and recent graduates of the university.  There is a substantial prize fund in the region of £30,000 including cash, free professional advice and managed office space to help make businesses a commercial success.

Addressing staff and students from the university who attended the launch, Dawn Primarolo commented, “Competitions such as this provide a valuable platform to help transfer some of the excellent research coming out of universities by putting it back into society.  Introducing innovation and enterprise is the foundation of a growing and successful economy and I encourage those with bright ideas to come forward and take part in the competition.”

The best entries, as judged by a panel of experts from the sponsoring organisations including Business West, Deloitte and Touche, Fortis Bank, STMicroelectronics, Osborne Clarke and Sulis Innovation, will then be invited to submit full business plans.  Winners, to be announced at the prestigious Enterprise Dinner in the summer of 2006, will be awarded cash prizes and support to help bring their ideas to the marketplace.

Dawn Primarolo concluded, ”Nurturing enterprising ideas, at all levels, is essential to sustaining a thriving economy.  It is very much a part of the wider government policy and it is encouraging to see universities such as Bristol engaged in activities like the New Enterprise Competition.”

This year’s competition launch is part of Enterprise Week, a national week designed to raise awareness of the enterprise activities coming out of universities throughout the UK.