*Disclaimer* This is a Sponsored Post. But most of the content in this post is written by me, and I wouldn't include it in the blog if I didn't think it was a great opportunity.
As regular readers might have guessed by now, I'm a huge believer in freelancing and start ups in the UK. Most of the inspiring people I know are entrepreneurs or have taken the plunge and started their own business. Hell, my own parents took a chance and started their own business when I was just 18 months old. Frankly, it's often those small businesses that go on to make a big difference. Where would we be without people like Mark Zuckerberg?
Launching your own business is also one of the best ways to earn money in the current economy, and there's a steady rise of people doing just that. If you can't find a job but have your own skill set or idea, what's stopping you creating your own income? Even if it's as simple as selling your own crafts.
If you're nervous about starting your own business, worried about raising funds or you're not sure where to start, you might want to check out Orange's Win Your Business competition. They're on the hunt for the UK's next Different Business.
Here's what they had to say:
"Your different business ideas could become a reality. Naturally, Orange aren't just handing out cheques. They're making sure you have the support, advice and investment to get you on the road to success and change your life forever. Their panel of judges includes some of the UK's most successful business leaders – tell them about your innovative new idea and you could become the UK's next different business."
"They're looking for a different idea, different approaches, clear strategies – something that is worth funding. The prize is worth up to £200,000 and includes not just investment capital, but legal advice, business planning advice, mentoring, and marketing consultancy."
Sounds pretty good, right? At the very least, it's a great opportunity to meet some interesting business leaders and experience pitching and shaping a business idea. It sounds to me a little like Dragon's Den – without the scary warehouse and glare of the Dragons.
So, have you been mulling an idea over for a while? Seen a gap in the market for something but don't know how to go about making it a reality? This could be your chance (or your chance to tell your mother/brother/sister/other half/friend to enter that idea they've been talking about for years).
Will you be entering the Win Your Business competition?
