LAST CALL FOR EAST YORKSHIRE ENTREPRENEURS TO ENTER BRITAIN’S BIGGEST START-UP AWARDS!

With just two weeks until the close of entries, HSBC Bank is making a last call to all new companies to enter this year’s Start-Up Stars Awards – an annual search for the UK’s most promising start-up businesses and the inspirational entrepreneurs behind them.

The Awards, backed by the government and supported by Sky News and the Daily Express, welcome any fledging firms less than three years old which can prove they have the determination, dedication, creativity and business acumen for success.

The Start-Up Stars Awards culminates with a glittering black-tie event at London’s Dorchester Hotel on October 29, where the UK’s top new businesses will hope to be crowned ‘Start-Up Star 2008’ and to walk away with a cheque for £50,000, courtesy of HSBC.

A cheque for £5,000 will also be presented to the business scooping the Green Award and demonstrating they are putting the environment at the top of their business agenda.

As official supporter of the Awards, Google will be offering £5,000 of AdWords and a visit to their London office as a prize to both the National Winner and the Green Award Winner. Each of the runners-up will receive £2,500 of AdWords.

Helping to launch the Awards, Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Shriti Vadera said: “Successful start-ups are essential to the UK meeting the challenges of today’s globally competitive market. Small and growth businesses are an important source of innovation, competition and new ideas and of course help to create new jobs.

“I am grateful to HSBC, the Daily Express and Sky News for developing the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards 2008. Awards such as these, contribute to encouraging a culture of risk taking and aspiration that will help us achieve our ambition of being the most enterprising economy in the world.”

The regional heats, which generate 60 Regional Winners, seek entries from all over the UK. A panel of business experts will then select the top 10 new businesses to fly the flag for their region in the National Finals.

Head of Business Banking for HSBC, Huw Morgan, added: “Last year HSBC helped more than 130,000 new businesses get started. That’s one every four minutes, so we understand what it takes to set up a new venture and go it alone.

“There is no such thing as too new or too small in these Awards, as long as the entrepreneurs can demonstrate potential for greatness. It is these inspirational people that make Start-Up Stars so special – they’ve all had a dream and, crucially, the conviction and talent to turn that dream into a reality.”

The top prize in 2007 was awarded to Concert Live – a unique company started by two 29-year-old school friends who record and sell CD’s of live concerts, available for fans to purchase immediately after the gig has finished.

Other National Finalists ranged from a husband and wife team whose experience of switching to a totally organic lifestyle inspired them to open a one-stop shop for organic lifestyle products, to another designing and manufacturing a stylish range of clothes, specifically meeting the needs of the disabled.

Dan Cobley, UK & Benelux Marketing Director for Google, said: “We're delighted to play a part in encouraging new entrepreneurs and celebrating the achievements of the UK's most innovative and passionate new businesses. We wish you all the best of luck!”

If you’re one of the growing number of men and women in Britain who have said yes to an independent future and discovered the best boss to work for is yourself – the organisers want to hear from you.

Entry forms are available online at www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk or from HSBC branches.

For further enquiries, please contact the Start-Up Stars office on
0800 085 3411.

Closing date for entries is Friday May 16.

For information on how to get a business off the ground, would-be entrepreneurs can go to HSBC’s Knowledge Centre at www.knowledge.hsbc.co.uk or they can obtain a copy of HSBC’s free Starting a Business pack by calling 0800 328 4912* or visiting an HSBC branch.

* Textphone 1800 10800 028 3516. Lines are open 8am to 10pm every day (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day). Communications may be monitored and/or recorded.