Caption: An entrepreneur presents their business idea to a panel of judges during the Strictly Come Business event
Six big ideas got a grilling when Leeds got its own ‘Dragons’ Den’.
Trinity and All Saints College in Horsforth played host to the west north west area finals of the Strictly Come Business competition.
Six entrepreneurs were given the chance to ‘tout’ their business idea to a panel of judges and an audience, before being ‘grilled’ by the expert panel made up of local business people, including West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) board member John Sharples.
WNWHL is one of three Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) which manage and maintain council housing on behalf of Leeds City Council. At the event, social housing residents with a business idea were offered advice and support by Places for People and partner organisations.
Six bright and innovative ideas were selected and put forward to the competition element of the project. The residents were given the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the judges:
• Adam Bowman’s idea was an organic horticulture enterprise which would ultimately involve employing vulnerable young people with learning difficulties.
• Bukka Di Santos has set up Media57, a public relations and media company, and wishes to expand her business.
• Doreen & Shirley Thompson would be working from home producing greetings cards, ornamental decorated eggs, and cakes – the whole family turned up to support and distributed samples of the cakes throughout the audience and judges.
• Beverley Bonnet’s idea was a mobile tanning business, which would attend people homes for parties offering beauty treatments and tanning.
• Kelly Newton wanted to set up in business as a Hypnotherapist, to help people overcome addictions and phobias (amongst other things), but Kelly wants to concentrate on lower income families as opposed to the high end market.
• Finally Anna Steel wanted to take Yoga and Meditation into schools as a way of helping to teach children to control their behaviour.
The judges gave the contestants a grilling, but also offered them valuable advice, but it was not only the judges that had their say on the night. The audience also had to vote on each of the contestants, and after a nervous wait, the winners were announced as Bukka Santos, and Doreen and Shirley Thompson, who will both represent west north west Leeds area in the grand final to be held in June.
The event was the culmination of a project managed by Places for People, and sponsored by a number of housing organisations including WNWHL. Over the past four months a number of local events have taken place in community centres on estates throughout the west and north west areas of Leeds.
There were no losers on the night as all of the contestants will, over the coming months, receive further advice and assistance to take their business ideas forward.
Cathy Clelland, chair of the West North West Homes Leeds board, said:
“Thanks must go to the area panels for their support in funding this excellent project, which really will help to make a difference to our customers and our communities.
“Hundreds of people have been engaged with, and given invaluable expert advice and assistance over the past months.
“Places for People have taken that advice to the heart of our communities and met people on their own doorsteps, which is imperative for some of our more hard to reach customers.”
Notes for editors
West North West Homes Leeds is one of three Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) which manage and maintain council housing on behalf of Leeds City Council. It is wholly owned by the council, which retains ownership of housing stock and sets rents.
West North West Homes Leeds covers the areas of Otley, Pool, Bramhope, Guiseley, Yeadon, Cookridge, Rawdon, Holt Park. Tinshill, Horsforth, Kirkstall, Burley, Armley, Bramley, Pudsey, Woodhouse, Wortley, Farnley, and New Farnley.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk
