THE finalists in the If We Can You
Can Challenge have been revealed
today, some of whom will go on to
become ambassadors of North-
East entrepreneurship.
Fourteen finalists are being
named in the challenge, two of
whom are from The Northern
Echo's heartland, and who the
newspaper's readers can now vote
to become a winner of the competition.
Matthew Scott, from Washington,
Wearside, and Karen Forster,
from Durham City, have both been
selected as finalists by The Northern
Echo's judging panel, which
comprised businessman Sir Peter
Vardy, the newspaper's Editor
Peter Barron, and a representative
of Business Link North-East.
Over 120 people entered If We
Can You Can, which was set up by
The Entrepreneurs' Forum to nurture
entrepreneurial talent - of all
ages and backgrounds - and recapture
a spirit of enterprise in the
North-East.
Mr Scott runs MES Footwork, a
website which enables users to design
their own trainers, a venture
inspired by Mr Scott's quest to create
an unusual gift for his girlfriend.
Ms Forster is the owner and
manager of men's grooming salon
Trampas, in Durham City, which
offers a range of treatments and
gift packages.
advertisement
Mr Scott or Ms Forster will become
one of the Faces of Entrepreneurship
next year, to encourage
other people considering
starting a business to follow their
lead.
The four-week voting period is
launched today, with the winner
being announced on June 12.
Carole Beverley, chief executive
of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, said:
"The response to this competition
is a testament to North-East England's
entrepreneurial spirit. The
sheer number and overall standard
of entrants has surpassed all
expectations, making our job of
picking the finalists a challenge in
itself.
"The panel considered each entrant's
entrepreneurial journey,
their determination to succeed,
and the challenges they have faced
along the way, as selection criteria.
"The chosen finalists demonstrate
the true spirit of entrepreneurialism
in the North-East and
will no doubt be a source of inspiration
to anyone in the region considering
taking the leap and going
it alone."
Northern Echo Editor Mr Barron
said he is proud to lend his
backing to the competition.
"The If We Can You Can challenge
has been a great success and
we are very proud to have played
such a pivotal role in encouraging
an entrepreneurial culture within
the region," he said.
"It will be an exciting month
ahead when the reader's votes
start coming in."
In addition to becoming a Face
of Entrepreneurship, the winners
will receive a monthly business
surgery with some of the region's
leading entrepreneurs, an iPhone
and a £2,000 support package.
The finalists will also attend the
Entrepreneurs' Forum's annual
conference next Thursday, which
features a host of famous speakers,
including supermodel and
businesswoman Elle Macpherson.
HOW TO VOTE
* Text necho followed by a
space and the full name of the
selected finalist to 07624-
803199
* Email Northern Echo with
the full name of the chosen
winner to
Stephen@ifwecanyoucan.co.
uk
* Log onto ifwecanyoucan.
co.uk
For more details about the
finalists log into their personal
online profile and blog pages
at ifwecanyoucan/challenge
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