Ten finalists will receive cash prizes worth £65,000 with the winner receiving £20,000 and £5,000 for runners up. There's also £4,000 of software and consulting services to be had by the winner.

This is your chance as a small business owner to win not only free money to spend on your business but also benefit from free publicity. The HSBC's 2X Factor Award" is aimed at Start-up companies less than three years old that has unique product that is likely to take the UK market by storm, hence the "X Factor".

The HSBC has a strong focus on small businesses and this is their fifth annual search for the UK's most enterprising start-up companies. Winners last year included Start-up Company with an insulating plaster product that's used in the building trade. Another company provided support services to young people in care.

Simon Wainwright who runs HSBC's Small Businesses services said: "We are calling on entrepreneurs to share their success stories. We are looking for entrepreneurs that provide inspiration for others. We believe there are many entrepreneurs with fantastic ideas and we want to hear from them."

Simon Wainwright also said: "By giving praise to entrepreneurs that are achievers we hope this will help other entrepreneurs succeed and that this will help HSBC to continue awarding budding entrepreneurs who will then inspire others and ultimately go on to realize their business dreams".

Nigel Griffiths who is Minister For Small Businesses is a supporter of HSBC's X Factor Award. His comments on the coming awards echo the fact that UK small business entrepreneurs are important wealth creators to the UK's economy and that the future wellbeing of the UK economy relies on providing an atmosphere of opportunity to all entrepreneurs.

The closing date for application is in two days time, Friday, 29 April 2005.

For information on how to apply for HSBC's Start-up Stars Awards 2005 visit HSBC or call the awards organizers on 0870 902 3333.

David
Small Business Resource