Spark 2010 pitching event

This year’s pitching event was held at the Highpoint Conference Centre in Leicester on the 9th and 10th November.

The 14 finalists presented their business ideas from market research to property maintenance via farming and a production nursery to a social lettings agency. Half the enterprises were proposing recycling enterprises including antique furniture restoration, bike, garden tool and wood recycling.

Community Insight waiting to present to the judges

All the business plans had been developed by the finalists in conjunction with the Spark corporate partners BT Global Services, Places for People, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Willmott Dixon.

Streets Bikes presenting

The judging panel included representatives from the Spark corporate partners, Homes and Communities Agency, Big Issue Invest and the TREES Group.

“How much did they want!” - decision time for the judges

As well as pitching the finalists also took part in a variety of workshops, Risk Management (run by 4Risk Prevention www.4riskprevention.co.uk), Building a Brand (The Chase www.thechase.co.uk), Willow Weaving (Winter Comfort, a 2009 Spark winner www.winterwillow.org.uk) and Business Leadership (Tinderbox www.tinder-box.co.uk).

This year’s Spark dinner was prepared by leading chef and a 2009 Spark winner Simon Boyle of the Beyond Food Organisation who was assisted by the 2010 Sparklers