THE deadline is looming for entrepreneurs in the North-East to enter a competition and enhance their business venture.

The If We Can You Can Challenge (IWCYC), run by The Northern Echo and the Entrepreneurs' Forum, wants to get hundreds of people into the industry, by providing mentoring and valuable advice from the North-East's entrepreneurial community to raise their profile.

The event is now in its sixth year, and offers prizes worth at least £17,000, including First Deal investment and mentoring and professional advice from forum partners, such as Yorkshire Bank, Onyx, Ward Hadaway, PWC and Rivers Capital.

Entrants are given the chance to present their ideas to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals, with Northern Echo readers voting for the winner.

A shortlist of eight candidates will then be selected to present their ideas to a judging panel, with the final three people going head-to-head in a readers' vote in July.

The deadline for entries is Friday, June 7, and winners will be announced at a ceremony on September 19.

For more information, visit ifwecanyoucan.co.uk