Want to be an entrepreneur?

South Essex College is once again on the hunt for the next big business idea.

The enrichment team has launched its ‘Who Wants to be an Entrepreneur?’ competition for students to pitch their ideas, with the winner receiving funding to get their vision off the ground, as well as business support.

The team has held several successful contests like this in previous years which have seen some impressive concepts come to life.

Sophie Taylor won the 2017 competition with her idea to launch a flavoured coffee company ‘Meilleur’. The funding she received helped her launch her own website to build the business. Since then she has gone on to collaborate with ‘Shaken Udder’ which produces and sells whole milk milkshakes via retailer Waitrose amongst others.

There were joint winners last year, Tia-Alyce Bolden and Jessica Taylor. Tia launched her personalised gift company ‘Tella’. She soon received orders in excess of £1,000 which enabled her to venture into a new segment of the market by targeting businesses as well as individual customers. Her business plan and achievements in business also saw her shortlisted for ‘National Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Peter Jones Foundation.

Jessica impressed the judges with her tasty and delicious biscuits which she sold to friends and family as well as customers at selected events. She worked in partnership with Tia to create personalised corporate hampers a large security alarm company.

Enrichment Associate Katherine Taylor, who is also the competition’s mentor with a wealth of experience running her own multi award winning business, said it was a fantastic opportunity for students.

She said: “Great businesses start with a great idea, but without the right support and initial funding, people often find it difficult to get their ideas off the ground.

“The competition in the past has helped our students build their ideas into successful businesses and we can’t wait to see what exciting proposals students have for us this year!”

If you would like to pitch your idea to the panel, contact katherine.taylor@southessex.ac.uk