Enterprise Challenge competition
If you want to be your own boss or turn an amazing innovation into a business venture, then the annual Enterprise Challenge competition can help give your ideas a kick-start.
What is it?
The Enterprise Challenge was launched in 2002 and offers an opportunity to pitch your ideas to an expert panel and be in with a chance of winning £5,000 to set up your own business. All you need is a great idea for a product or service, and we'll help guide you through the process by giving you access to a wide range of support and facilities.
Who can enter?
The competition is open to current Sheffield Hallam students or graduates of the University from the last five years.
What do I need to do?
Registration takes place in February each year - we'll need a short summary of your business idea, plus your contact details, for the first stage of the competition.
You'll be asked to sign an eligibility form to let us know that you agree to the terms of entry, and then you'll be sent a proforma to fill in to give us more detail about your idea. This should be submitted by April when the first phase of judging takes place, and if you're successful we'll ask you to submit a detailed business plan by July.
If you make it through to the final stage in September you'll get the chance to present your idea to the panel, after which the winners will be decided and announced at the awards dinner in September.
Competition timetable
The Enterprise Challenge competition has several stages to complete
| Registration - February | Once you've registered and we have checked your eligibility you will receive an eligibility form to be signed by you and any other members of your team to let us know that you agree to the terms of the competition. |
| More details - March | At the beginning of March you'll be sent a two-page proforma to fill in to give us more details about your business idea. |
| Submit your business summary - April | The business summaries should be submitted by April and judging will take place shortly after that, on the basis of information you include in your summary. |
| Submit a detailed business plan - July | If you make it through to the next stage, you will then be required to submit a detailed business plan. |
| Present your idea to the panel - September | Our expert panel of judges will decide who will make it through to the final presentation day in September, when the winners will be decided. |
| Winners announced - September | The awards dinner, where the winners will be announced, is held in September. |
