Pictured above: Sue Amphlett, Gerald Ratner and Vonny
Shelley at the iFestival Gala Dinner in April
Two Nottinghamshire entrepreneurs hungry for success are well on
their way to making their children's 'healthy eating' tableware
ideas a reality after winning £10,000 of business support
services.
Sue Amplett and Vonny Shelley, from Sherwood, received the prize
package after winning Last Business Standing at this year's
innovation EXPO (iEXPO). They beat more than 50 entrepreneurs who
competed in the climax of the iEXPO, the opening event of this
year's innovation Festival (iFestival).
Funded by emda and organised by East Midlands Innovation, the
iFestival took place between 9 March and 17 April and encouraged
businesses, researchers and the wider community to recognise and
celebrate the importance of innovation to the region's economic
prosperity.
The programme of support has been coordinated by Business Link,
and began with a diagnostics meeting to produce an action plan to
help Sue and Vonny set up their business, Piccy Products Ltd and
develop their product ideas, which they designed to encourage
children to enjoy healthy eating.
Sue said: "There are many support services available to
start up businesses like ours, so our initial meeting was crucial
in identifying what stage we were at with our business plans and
product designs and ensure that we met with the best advisors for
our needs.
"We have had our first support meetings, beginning with the
Manufacturing Advisory Service to discuss further alterations to
our prototypes. ProspectIP gave us some important advice on
trademarks and the various options of protecting and registering
our designs, logos and packaging and we also discussed sourcing and
specifications of raw materials for our products with innovation
company Pera.
"We are currently working on our business plan, so our meeting
with accountants Smith Cooper was really helpful in looking at
ideas for prices and quotes that will form part of our financial
forecast."
Sue and Vonny are also receiving ongoing support from the Food
and Drink Innovation Network and are in the process of organising a
mentor via the Business Link Startup Service.
Mentoring Project Manager, Michelle McAreavey, said: "The
selected mentor will take a high level overseeing role for Piccy
Products and help Sue and Vonny through their various action plans
from the various support meetings they will continue to have."
They have also received specific expertise from the East
Midlands Business Champions, a unique pool of independent business
volunteers, committed to shaping the region by sharing their
knowledge and inspiring others.
"Winning this prize has really got the ball rolling in terms of
moving our ideas forward and has made us realise how important it
is to take our time to get things right at the very beginning,"
explained Sue.
Mike Carr, emda's Executive Director of Business Support
Services said: "emda recognises that expert knowledge and
guidance can really make a difference between success and failure
for an ambitious entrepreneur, as well as help to build confidence
in their own business skills and abilities.
"The business services that Sue and Vonny have been able to
access are available to people across the East Midlands and we
would encourage anyone who is serious and passionate about their
business propositions to contact their local Business Link adviser
and find out about the advice and help that is accessible to
them."
Existing entrepreneurs or individuals who are thinking of
starting up in business should contact Business Link on 0845 058
6644 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands for help
and advice.
For further information about the iFestival and East Midlands
Innovation please visit www.eminnovation.org.uk