New Start Scotland

What: New Start Scotland

When: Nov 18 and 19, 2011

Where: SECC Scotland

Why:  Running over two days, New Start Scotland offers over 100 exhibitors as well as 50 seminars and workshops, giving people a chance to develop their entrepreneurial skills, meet new contacts and get advice on how to turn their business dreams into reality. Over 8,000 entrepreneurs and business owners are expected to attend. This year's key speakers include online Dragons' Den panelist Shaf Rasul.

Highlights:

•         Bright business idea competition

•         Business planning kiosks

•         Online demonstration area

•         Small business clinic

•         Networking area

Website: http://www.newstartscotland.com

Cost: Free tickets

The organisers of New Start Scotland are hoping to encourage the next generation of Scottish entrepreneurs with the return of the Bright Business Idea competition. On offer is £30,000 of business support, including £5,000 cash, to help one fledgling entrepreneur turn their business dreams into reality.

Organiser Ceri Rogers said: “With over 15,000 new businesses launched last year in Scotland, the entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and well in the many areas of the country.

“With unemployment rates continuing to top 200,000 in Scotland, many people feel that launching their own business is the only opportunity open to them. It is crucial they receive the right level of support - that's why this year's New Start Scotland is offering the complete business package to help one lucky entrepreneur turn their business idea into strong business proposition.”

Dragons’ Den style heats will run all day Friday and Saturday morning with the grand final taking place live on the Saturday afternoon. The competition is open to anyone who has a great business idea and whose firm is less than two years old.

Previous winners include; plumber turned entrepreneur Ross Dickinson whose product 'Kibosh' provides an instant emergency repair for burst pipes which anyone can use until a plumber can make a permanent fix.; plucky Gran Victoria Lee of Glitter Beach, who suffered multiple organ failure as a result of Crohn's disease, launched her own business selling beachwear specifically designed for people with colostomy bags; George McFadden inventor of the Vend-Sense - designed to save energy, the device automatically switches off vending machines when nobody is in the premises. Using a motion sensor, the device then switches the machine back on in the morning at the first sign of movement; and former teacher James Smart, inventor of the Smartsack, a space-saving storage solution for busy school classrooms.

For free entry to the Bright Business Idea competition visit the New Start Scotland website