DRAGON’S Den panellist Theo Paphitis (inset) has joined the search for Britain’s best-loved local firms.
Theo, who is already a supporter of the University of Huddersfield’s pioneering BA honours degree in enterprise development, has now teamed up with Barclays Local Business.
He joins a panel of experts in choosing which deserving businesses from up and down the country will receive a share of £85,000 worth of prizes and cash.
Firms can only be entered into the competition by their customers' nominations. Barclays is asking people to take part by proposing their favourite small firm – by telling Barclays how the business treats them as a customer, about its contribution to the local economy and its place in the local community.
Said Theo: “Everyone has their favourite local firm. The diversity of UK small businesses is mind-boggling and it’s what makes our high streets up and down the country truly unique.”
Steve Cooper, managing director of Barclays Local Business, said: “Barclays recognises that local businesses are at the heart of our communities and are utterly crucial to regional economies.
“We want to recognise their contribution to daily life and so we’ve put together a competition to highlight their great work.”
There will nine regional winners with eight of them taking home £5,000 in prize money and a one year free business support package from Barclays.
The overall winner will receive £20,000 in cash as well as three years of free business support from Barclays. The winner will also get a one-to-one mentoring session with Theo.
To find out more, go to www.barclays.co.uk/bbb.
The closing date for entries is the June 6, 2009.
