Kwasi was delighted to attend the final of the Spelthorne Business Plan Competition, which he launched in 2013 to identify and help budding entrepreneurs. We were unable to hold the Competition last year due to the pandemic, so he was particularly looking forward to meeting in person to hear about the local businesses that are so important in the Borough.
At the BP headquarters in Sunbury, the six finalists proposed their business plan to our panel of expert judges. All six finalists were of a very high standard and the judges had a difficult job deciding the winner. The judges focused on many different components, including the commercial potential, innovative nature and technical feasibility of ideas, as well as the economic viability of the business and the potential for sustainability.
The overall winner was Shannon McBride for her company Magic Elephant Ltd, a mental health and mindfulness service. Shannon received £3500 in start-up funding, a package of mentoring and support, free website and logo design and access to the new Spelthorne Business Hub. Based in Sunbury, the hub provides a creative base for entrepreneurs to develop and grow their business.
The second-place prize of £1000 was awarded to Catherine Hayes for her Totally Tangerine Cookery school, which teaches children and young people how to cook wholesome food from scratch. The third-place prize of £200 was awarded to Liza Veta for her vegan skincare and home fragrance company.
The final was a great community event and a celebration of Spelthorne’s vibrant business life. We wish all the participants the very best as they develop their businesses going forward.
