Competition

Gatwick announce competition to help SME exports

Gatwick Airport has launched a competition with the Department for International Trade to give local businesses the chance to attend international trade exhibitions – helping them grow internationally and support local job creation.

SMEs headquartered in Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Croydon can take part by explaining in 150 words how their business will develop by attending trade exhibitions through the Gatwick Trade Fairs webpage (www.gatwickairport.com/trademissions).

Thanks to a new Gatwick partnership, the Department of International Trade will also be offering support to the winners to help them maximise the opportunities at the show they choose to attend.

International Trade Secretary and President of the Board of Trade Dr Liam Fox MP said: “Businesses of all sizes should remember that there is a world beyond Europe and there will be a time beyond Brexit. This competition, which we have launched with Gatwick Airport, will help SMEs who may not have the time or resources to realise the opportunities of international expansion and exporting.

“The DIT stands ready to help companies export. I encourage local businesses to get in touch with us to learn more about what we can do to help you make the transition from local to global.”

Oxford Economics found that Gatwick was an important enabler of trade with £7.5 billion of international goods passing through Gatwick in 2017 in business that supported 113,800 UK jobs. Such trade is enabled directly by the transport of cargo within the belly holds of flights – particularly through the airports 66-strong long haul route network.

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport said; “SMEs are an important cog in the economic ecosystem of the South East and we recognise the many challenges they face. By supporting local enterprises to attend international trade shows we hope to provide them with an important step up that will help them to develop and grow their business for the future.

“We hope to keep working closely with the Department for International Trade to see how else we might support local business going forward.”

To enter, click here.

Royal Mail Launches Small Business Festive Competition

Royal Mail has launched a Christmas competition for small businesses across the UK

Christmas is a time for giving and during this festive season Royal Mail has four prizes on offer for small businesses

There are two ways you can get involved, each with the chance to win £1000: Share a photo of your festive shop window display or tell Royal Mail about the special festive communications you have planned for your customers

There will also be two runners up for each part of the competition, who will both win £500

The competition is running from Tuesday, 27th November – Sunday, 16th December

Royal Mail has opened six dedicated parcel sort centres and recruited an additional 23,000 temporary staff to support its seasonal operation and to deliver the best possible service to customers throughout the Christmas period

Royal Mail has launched a Christmas competition for small businesses across the UK.

Christmas is a time for giving and during this festive season Royal Mail has four prizes on offer for small businesses.

All UK small businesses are able to enter the competition and there are two ways to get involved, each with the chance to win £1000:

Share a photo of your festive shop window display with us.

Or, tell us about what special festive communications you have planned for your customers. This could be anything from direct mail, email, a social media campaign or any unique festive packaging!

There will also be two runners up for each part of the competition, who will both win £500.

UK small businesses should send competition entries by one of the following ways:

By uploading your photo or comment to Twitter or Instagram, including #RoyalMail and #smallbizfestivecompetition as well as your own username. Don’t forget to tag @RoyalMail on Twitter or @RoyalMailOfficial on Instagram

Via email: win@royalmail.com with the subject line Small Business Festive Competition

Royal Mail’s contact form: www.royalmail.com/small-business-saturday

Or direct message Royal Mail’s Facebook account with the hashtags #RoyalMail and #smallbizfestivecompetition

The competition opens at 10.00 on Tuesday, 27th November 2018 and closes at 23.59 on Sunday, 16th December 2018. All winners will be announced no later than the 21st December.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said “We support the growth of each and every small business that we have the opportunity to work with and pride ourselves on being the most reliable business partner to all. We’re delighted to be providing small businesses with the chance to win special prizes through our festive competition.”

During the Christmas period in 2017, Royal Mail handled a staggering 149 million packages. This year, Royal Mail has opened six dedicated parcel sort centres and recruited an additional 23,000 temporary staff to support its seasonal operation. Over 1,100 Enquiry Offices will be open on Sunday 23rd December and they will all be open on Christmas Eve. These measures are about our commitment to deliver the best possible service to customers throughout the Christmas period.

Tech Nation Rising Stars applications close in less than two weeks

There are just under two weeks to apply for Rising Stars, the UK’s newest and most exciting pitch competition. 

Designed with ambitious tech entrepreneurs in mind, Rising Stars is on a mission to find the UK’s most promising early-stage start-ups and take them to the next level. This your opportunity to connect your start-up with mentors, investors and influencers, and significantly raise the profile of your business.

 APPLY NOW > or for more information, click here.

 (Applications close at midnight on 4 November 2018)

  

The prize package

The carefully crafted prize package is designed to amplify your early-stage startup. Winners will benefit from:

  • 1-2-1 mentoring with a high profile mentor

  • Facilitated introductions to investors and corporates

  • Bespoke PR campaign

  • 1-2-1 BDODrive Accelerate session focused on unlocking your growth potential and identifying the tangible steps you need to take

  • Financial contribution towards a conference of your choice

  • Pitch training and coaching

  • Networking opportunities with investors, heads of accelerators, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders

Who are they looking for?

  • Your tech business must have been going 1-3 years

  • UK HQ

  • Seed to pre-Series A funding stage

  • At least one active client or pilot

Most importantly, they are looking for exciting companies that have the desire and ambition to scale their business.