Entrepreneurs on a date with destiny!

6:37pm Thursday 3rd May 2007

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Winners of the three successful Enterprise Island competitions in Bradford came together for a speed dating' event to swap tips on how to achieve success.

The three competitions, held over the last 18 months, urged would-be business people to come forward with their ideas and receive advice on to how to realise them.

Enterprise Island proved fruitful, leading to more than 20 successful businesses being started in Bradford, some of which have gone on to receive national recognition.

Bradford Council even used the winners of the first Enterprise Island competition as part of its successful bid to land a £21.4m Local Enterprise Growth Initiative grant last year - money which is now funding the Be Enterprising programme to generate new businesses in the city.

The winners came together at Bradford University's School of Management to celebrate their achievements and try Enterprise Speed Dating.

Each business had just a few minutes to get their sales messages across in what organiser and business expert Iain Scott claims to be the world's first trial run of the idea.

Mr Scott said: "Enterprise Speed Dating will give entrepreneurs a great chance to improve their sales presentation techniques. Piloting the concept is another first for Bradford."

Among those attending were Haroon Rashid, whose film making company Finisher Productions premiered its first film last month; Rubina Khan whose Yarn Spinners Tours enlighten visitors about Bradford's heritage; and Bobby Singh and Rowland Egege, who set up Pro-Active Sports to give coaching to school pupils.

The later business recently reached the final of the Enterprising Young Brits competition and saw the pair pitching their company to Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Enterprise Island is a touring attraction throughout the UK, offering applicants the chance to present their ideas to a panel of experienced business people who then select 12 finalists to take part in a weekend of intensive training and guidance. Those who are not in the final group are offered meetings with business advisers and a training workshop.

Robert Campbell, enterprise programme manager for Be Enterprising, said: "Enterprise Island challenges have proved a good launch platform for new businesses with potential for growth.

"The district as a whole needs at least 1,000 more companies to set up over the next few years if the job and career opportunities which local people will need are to be there for them."