A new project being launched as part of Entrepreneurship Week 2009, which will see young people pitching their ideas to a panel of dragons, as they battle it out for a cash prize and business guidance to get their idea off the ground.

The project ‘My Grand Idea’ is being driven by young entrepreneur Ryan Holt, and is aimed at young people from 15-18 from all around Waveney.

Aspiration to succeed at just eight, Ryan Holt has built up many enterprising projects and also a successful design agency, as well being in the top hundred for Sir Alan’s Junior Apprentice and also a columnist for The Lowestoft Journal.

Ryan said, “If you have an idea which you’re passionate about, you just have to do it. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about and that’s how I’ve been successful, and why I am running this event for young people to showcase their ideas.”

My Grand Idea has got the support from many local businesses such as Blue Lobster IT, Picture Studios, Screens Embroidery as well Graphics Matter who all think that it is important to support entrepreneurship within the town, and is one of the ways forward out of the recession.

Simon Keeble at Blue Lobster IT said “We feel privileged to be involved in a project such as this as it's important to give young people the support they need with their ideas. There are many routes to success including academia and practical experience. Irrespective of the route taken, improving aspirations and developing a "can do" attitude benefits individuals and the local economy”

Promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship in Lowestoft and Waveney will provide people with inspiration, the skills and knowledge to realise that running your own business, designing and making your own product and becoming an entrepreneur are within anyone’s reach. There are many examples of enterprising activities in this area and we need to shout out about them more so that Lowestoft can been seen as being the entrepreneurial place it really is. Inspiring someone to be more enterprising and entrepreneurial will provide them with the skills and knowledge that will not only be useful for running a business, but also ensures that local businesses are filled within enterprising employees.

Young people, who wish to pitch their idea in front of the dragons, will need to fill in an application form and say why they feel their idea is good and how it will be successful. However only, twenty successful applicants will be invited to pitch their ideas in the battle to win.

The panel of Dragon’s consist of local entrepreneurs and business people who know their industries well and have worked with young people and businesses before.

Erika Clegg, Managing Director of award winning design agency, Spring Advertising in Southwold, will be one of the dragons who will be able to give advice on ways of Marketing and Branding your idea/product.

Hazel Johnson, head of Make your Mark for the East of England said “The Grand Idea will provide young people from the area with an opportunity to pitch a business idea to a panel of experts. Young people, who would normally struggle to get funding because of their age, can get some funding to make their business idea a reality. This is a fabulous event and one which will put Lowestoft on the map during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009.”

Over the past month, it has been the Benjamin Britten High School student, Ryan who has got businesses to sponsor the event, and also gather the dragons of which applicants will be pitching in front of.

My Grand Idea is intended to provide inspirational opportunities and get young people sharing their ideas and connecting with people as well as seeing their ideas go from paper to reality.

If you have a budding idea that you would like to pitch in front of the dragons for the chance of a cash prize and business guidance, log onto http://www.mygrandidea.co.uk for an application form and more information.