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Blueprint Revamps 2010 Competition

Added 6th Aug 2010

Exciting new changes lie ahead for the 2010 finalists of Blueprint: The North East Universities Business Planning Competition.  Each of the institutional competitions at the Universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside are now in full swing, the winners of which will go head-to-head with each other at the 7th Annual Regional Grand Final in late October.

This year students will compete against each other in the 'Business Awards', 'Creativity & Design' Awards and the BRAND NEW, 'Social Entrepreneurship Awards'.

The 'Social Enterprise' Category, added to this year's competition aims to acknowledge and highlight those who set up businesses for social purposes, where the core aim is not specifically profit.

Major sponsor, One Northeast's, Sanjee Ratnatunga, commented that the introduction of the Social Entrepreneurship award category is...."Insert quote from Sanjee Ratnatunga about her positive feelings about the new SE award category"

NEW to the competition this year are the Knowledge Transfer Awards (which subsume the Science and Technology Awards) for members of staff and postgraduate students and researchers at the five universities. The Knowledge Transfer Awards, which specifically include science and technology based spin-outs, are aimed primarily at intellectual property based businesses emerging from the five regional universities.

The Knowledge Transfer Awards will be supported this year by long term sponsor Dickinson Dees who were instrumental in the establishment of the Science and Technology Awards seven years ago and have sponsored that award over the past six years.  Sean Nicholson, partner and Head of Technology at Dickinson Dees commented:

"We are delighted to continue our support for the Blueprint competition by sponsoring the Knowledge Transfer Awards. The competition has been a vital part of the drive to encourage and support the spinning out of high growth technology businesses from the North East's universities over the last seven years. The region's universities are at the forefront of advances in a wide range of technologies and the Blueprint competition provides an excellent focal point to help develop world leading research into world renowned companies."

This year's BIZKIT (in the past awarded only to regional finalists) has been given a complete NEW MAKEOVER encompassing a wide range of support.   The idea is to develop the Bizkit into a generic aid for ALL finalists, entering both at institutional and regional levels.  The Bizkit will highlight support services and funding sources available across the North East Region and will be beneficial to all entrants. It will include key resources for early stage business development, and will be especially useful to those with already established companies.

Another fantastic addition to the competition is the participation of the CONNECTIONS NETWORK and The Bridge Club. They will run a 'Meet the Finalists' evening, just after Pilot Your Pitch (practice event) in early September, sponsored by the IP Group.  This will give finalists the opportunity to meet with sponsors on an informal basis with surgeries aimed at securing competition mentors, who will aim to identify areas of support for finalists and offer coaching and assistance with their business idea.

Caroline Theobald, MD of Bridge Club Ltd, who is delivering the CONNECT North East access to finance network, said:

"We are delighted to have become re-engaged with this year's BLUEPRINT competition.  Using the expertise of the professional service providers in the CONNECT network, I am sure that this year's finalists will have access to the 'just in time' advice they need to help them on their business journey and towards their investment goals."

The Blueprint: Regional Grand Final is currently seeking sponsorship and urges North East businesses to come on board and support this established event that provides sponsors with an insight into the innovative and commercial ideas coming out of the Region's Universities.  Both cash and/or in-kind contributions are welcomed.

'2010 Supporters' include: Dickinson Dees, One NorthEast, NetPark, IP Group, UnLtd, Bgroup, The Bridge Club, Connect North East, Musa, Murgitroyd, Entrust, Garbeau, and Gateshead City Council.

The Regional Grand Final will take place on Thursday 21st October 2010.  Judging will take place during the day and the winners will be announced at a black tie awards ceremony later that evening, at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.  Finalists and guests are invited to enjoy a sumptuous 3-course meal, wine and networking, followed by the awards ceremony itself.

If you are interested in learning more about the competition - entry, sponsorship opportunities or tickets for the grand final, please email href="mailto:scientific.enterprise@dur.ac.ukscientific.enterprise@dur.ac.uk">">scientific.enterprise@dur.ac.uk, or alternatively visit www.blueprintcompetition.co.uk

 

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