Partner Article

Bank launches search for Britainâ??s top new businesses

March saw the launch of the eighth HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards, an annual search for what HSBC calls the UK’s “most promising start-up businesses”.

The Awards are open to any fledging firms less than three years old which can prove their determination, dedication, creativity and business acumen.The ‘Start-Up Star 2008’ will be awarded with £50,000, courtesy of HSBC.

A cheque for £5,000 will also be presented to the business scooping the Green Award and demonstrating they are putting the environment at the top of their business agenda.

As official supporter of the Awards, Google will be offering £5,000 of AdWords and a visit to their London office as a prize to both the National Winner and the Green Award Winner. Each of the runners-up will receive £2,500 of AdWords.

Shriti Vadera, Minister for Business and Competitiveness, said: “Successful start-ups are essential to the UK meeting the challenges of today’s globally competitive market. Small and growth businesses are an important source of innovation, competition and new ideas and of course help to create new jobs. “Awards such as these contribute to encouraging a culture of risk taking and aspiration that will help us achieve our ambition of being the most enterprising economy in the world.”

Head of Business Banking for HSBC, Huw Morgan, said: “Last year HSBC helped more than 130,000 new businesses get started, that’s one every four minutes, so we understand what it takes to set up a new venture and go it alone. “There is no such thing as too new or too small in these Awards, as long as the entrepreneurs can demonstrate potential for greatness. It is these inspirational people that make Start-Up Stars so special – they’ve all had a dream and crucially, the conviction and talent to turn that dream into a reality.”

Entry forms are available online at www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk or from HSBC branches. For further enquiries, please contact the Start-Up Stars office on 0800 085 3471.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .