Partner Article

Blueprint calls on sponsor support

For the sixth year running, the North East Universities Business Planning Competition - Blueprint, is underway once again.

Blueprint brings together all five North East universities to develop the sharpest business ideas from the region’s graduates, undergraduates, staff and alumni.

The competition, which was initially launched in 2003, is calling for more sponsors for this year’s awards. 12 regional businesses have already pledged their support and One North East has renewed its backing as a headline sponsor.

Other sponsors include: Dickinson Dees, NET Park, The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, bgroup, Musa Fine Art, Finance Tree, North Star Equity Investors, Marks and Clerk, RTC North, Entrust, The Journal, Ward Hadaway and AlphaGraphics.

Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities each hold their own student business planning competitions throughout the year and the winners go forward to compete against each other and staff entrants in the Blueprint Grand Final in October.

Co-Founder of Blueprint, professor Brian Tanner from the North East Centre for Scientific Enterprise (NECSE) said: “Despite the recession we still must celebrate and grow our entrepreneurial activity to secure the future success of our region. It is vitally important that business people in the region once again gets behind the Blueprint competition to unlock the untapped talent in our Universities.”

One North East head of business, enterprise and skills, Tim Pain, said: “These challenging economic times highlight even more the importance of developing a more enterprising culture among our graduates.

“Harnessing and celebrating their skills and drive can only help to create more new businesses and provide the enterprising skills that modern business requires.”

For more about the sponsorship opportunities or to book a table, contact Jill Flowers on 0191 334 3210.

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