17th July 2009

Budding businesses get a helping hand

A DRAGON’S Den style competition by Weymouth and Portland Housing has given five business the chance to make their pipe dreams a reality.

The social housing landlord, part of the Synergy Housing Group, has made the five South Dorset businesses dreams come true through its credit crunch-busting Step-up, Start-up initiative.

Step-up, Start-up saw budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of local experts - along the same lines as the BBC’s popular Dragons’ Den programme.

The five winners were each awarded £1,000 to get their businesses up and running, while every entrant was offered a package of support, including help and advice on IT, website building, accounting, customer services, marketing and much, much more.

The winners were Mary-Jane Wallace, who has developed a new synthetic phonics reading scheme, mobile hairdresser Tamela Borez, wedding photographers Jan and Pat Hinton, child minder Sarah Clarke and James Braithwaite and Fabian Hurrion, who are setting up a bicycle maintenance service.

Employment Minister Jim Knight MP, made the presentations at WPH’s headquarters in Lynch Lane, Weymouth.

MP Mr Knight said: “I am delighted to be able to support the Step-up, Start-up initiative. It’s a scheme that provides local people with the chance to unleash their talents, creativity and enterprise and I congratulate those who have taken part.

“I wish all five winners and all the runners’ up the very best of luck and I look forward to seeing their ideas flourish in the months ahead.”

WPH managing director Kevin Dey today thanked all those who helped make the initiative a success, adding: “To take pipe dreams and turn them into reality has been something very special and my thanks go to everyone involved.

“The standard of entries has been phenomenal and it just goes to show what people can achieve with a little bit of help and encouragement. But ultimately it’s been about the dedication, passion and commitment of all those who entered and I’m so pleased we have been able to get their business ideas off the ground. “

The ‘Dragons’ included Trelawney Dampney of Eco Sustainable Solutions, John Moyce from Website Marketing UK Ltd, Roberta Kershaw from KISM-IT and Barry White of Humphries Kirk Solicitors.

James Braithwaite, 17, said: “I can’t thank Weymouth and Portland Housing enough for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We are so pleased to have won and are determined to repay the faith people have shown in us.

“The fact we’ll be getting support from top professional business people is fantastic. We couldn’t have wished for a better start.”

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