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Entrepreneur Academy Final 2019

We hosted another exciting competition final for the Entrepreneur Academy on Thursday 7 November. The Academy is now in its 7^th year and is run by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in partnership with East Surrey College. The course supports local entrepreneurs, providing them with an opportunity to gain the essential skills needed to set up a business; which includes business planning, finance, marketing, legal aspects and online business promotion.

This year's nine Academy members presented their business plans to a panel of 'Dragons', made up of Rosemary French OBE (Executive Director, Gatwick Diamond Initiative), Matt Turner (Managing Director, Creative Pod Limited/Director Young Start up Talent) and Brian Woods (Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses).

The judges were so impressed with the standard of pitch presented on the day, that the £5,000 investment grant was shared between two candidates. Emilia Hunt, a fabric designer and Kelly Smith, founder of Boogie Monsters, an entertainment business for children’s events. There was also a bonus prize this year of £1,000 to Mina Brown, for her business, The Village Cakery, which produces quality handmade cakes and bakes.

Pictured below above are the three winners with the judges and below; Entrepreneur Academy finalists and the judges, as well as Governors Liz Rushton (Vice-Chair of the Corporation) and Simon Bland (Head of Economic Prosperity for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council). Also pictured are Kam Dehal (Vice Principal – Business Development, College Group) and Jayne Dickinson, (Chief Executive College Group and Principal, East Surrey College).