Express launches academy for entrepreneurs

Monday 18 September 2017

Budding local entrepreneurs are being urged to enter the Bailiwick Business Academy - a new initiative designed to provide guidance, support and potentially investment, to get start-ups off the ground.

It's being organised by Bailiwick Publishing - the parent company of Bailiwick Express - and includes a high-profile panel of investors who will grill the shortlisted finalists on their ideas to make it big.

The Academy is being supported by Jersey Business and Envestors, two organisations who are already at the forefront of helping local entrepreneurs to move ahead with their plans for business success. 

Entries for the Academy are now open - until 31st October - with shortlisting then starting in November by a panel of business experts including representatives of Carey Olsen, NatWest International, Sancus, Jersey Business, Envestors, Orchid, Regus and Bailiwick Publishing.

The finalists will then go through to face the investors, including Aaron Chatterley, Simon Perée and Zef Eisenberg. They will decide for themselves if they want to invest in any of the businesses, but the winner is guaranteed to receive mentoring and specialist advice, as well as advertising and branding support, and office space.

The initiative has been organised by Bailiwick Publishing - Director, Mark Jackson commented: "We've worked really hard to get our business to the successful stage it is today, and we always said that when we were able to, we would get something organised to help others following a similar path. We have recently secured angel investment ourselves, which is going to help drive our expansion into Guernsey, and further afield, so it felt like the right time to get the Bailiwick Business Academy off the ground.

"We have put together a panel including some of the best known local business success stories, and it will be totally their decision as to whether they invest in any of the finalists. But we will give those businesses a chance to make their pitch to them - and the winner is guaranteed to get a very useful package of support services which will certainly help them to get their idea going.

"We would like to thank the investors for their support, as well as Carey Olsen, NatWest International, Sancus, Regus, Envestors, Jersey Business and Orchid - we needed them to believe in this idea, and they have backed it all the way."

More information is available here.