BUSINESSES and entrepreneurs with ideas in the Wee County are being encouraged to enter a Dragons’ Den style competition.
Thousands of pounds of prizes will be up for grabs at the Highlighting Entrepreneurship All Together (HEAT) 24 competition.
Applications last week opened for businesses that are less than two years old and for those with a business idea that have not started up yet.
Organisers Ceteris – supported by Business Gateway Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling – are on the lookout for fresh ideas with a potential for growth and innovation with applications open until August 26.
Sponsored by Robertson, prizes include more than £4,000 worth of IT and HR consultancy from STEP, nearly £2,000 worth of accountancy support, around £1,000 of learning vouchers and more.
Tillicoultry ice cream café Penny Licks, which opened in 2022, impressed the judges last year to be crowned HEAT winner in 2023 with Stephen Sloper at the helm.
Stephen's ideas for growth, including wholesale plans, went a long way as he beat stiff competition from dozens of other Forth Valley firms.
He said: “Entering and winning the HEAT 23 competition was a meaningful and rewarding experience for myself.
"I have very successfully used the various prizes to improve and develop our business greatly. I continue to build business relationships which have come about through the help of Ceteris and Business Gateway.
“The whole process, although slightly nerve-racking at the time, really challenged me to consider how I could portray my business to a panel of my peers so that they could understand my vision.”
Businesses with less than two years of trading by September 2024, and those with an entrepreneurial idea, can apply from across the Forth Valley.
READ MORE: Alloa and Grangemouth general election candidates appeal for votes
Maggie Gorman, business support and development director at Ceteris, added: "Whatever your business, we want to hear all about it – in the past we have had winners from as broad a range sectors as drone videography, a martial arts gym and the inventor of magnetic post it notes.
“Forth Valley is brimming with business ideas and commerce is booming in the region.
"Applying is easy and there are thousands of pounds of prizes up for grabs.
“I promise our Dragons’ Den panel doesn't have anyone too scary on it.”
The final of the competition will take place on September 17.
Visit surveymonkey.com/r/theheat24 to apply.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here