FRANCIS Clark, Amicus Law, The Castle Hotel, The Carly Press, Word Gets Around, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset Business Agency, who are supported by Santander Bank plc, have teamed up to bring two Taunton businesses a prize worth over £3,000 to help them in 2015.

The sponsors are proud to announce details of the second annual Taunton Business Incentive. There are many fantastic businesses, large and small, across Taunton Deane, and these businesses are the backbone of the local economy.

The sponsors want to encourage, motivate, support and celebrate the local talent, enterprises and entrepreneurs. The sponsors are looking for growing, imaginative and enthusiastic enterprises, who they can help, and whose journey they can follow in the year ahead.

There are two categories this year:

Group A includes businesses that turnover £100K or less

Group B, who turnover between 100K and £1 million per year.

Prize details

• A Business Support and Mentoring Package to be used from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015 for each of the two winners. This comprises: • A bespoke marketing package to be used from 1st January 2015 (worth £1,040) with Newsquest South West portfolio of titles and websites, in association with TDBC. Please note, Newsquest standard advertising terms apply.

• A business package from Word Gets Around to comprise a half day 1-1 consultation (worth £125); an invitation to a networking event (worth £15) and a full page for each winner within WGA magazine (worth £130)

• A business support and mentoring package (worth up to £1,300) which will comprise of an initial half day business diagnostic consultation with Somerset Business Agency (worth £500); followed by a focussed two hour meeting with Francis Clark to discuss fi nancial issues highlighted in the diagnostic session (worth £400); and a two hour consultation with Amicus Law covering any legal issues highlighted (worth £400)

• A bespoke printing and design package (worth £400) from Carly Press. Please enter, tell your friends and be part of the excitement of seeing another local business really taking off. How to enter: These businesses may be sole traders, partnerships, LLPs or Limited Companies. The main trading address of the business should be located in the Taunton Deane boundary postcode area, if you are in doubt please check here https://gov.uk/fi nd-your-local-council Businesses have to nominate themselves by completing the entry form and answering the 12 questions* which will tell us all about your business. Please send your completed forms to: Mr Martin Lock, Francis Clark LLP, Blackbrook Gate 1, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, TA1 2PX Entries must be received before the closing date of 30th October 2014.

Please note: • * All questions must be answered failure to do so will eliminate the entry. • * Answers should be typed, printed and attached to the entry form. Hand written answers will eliminate the entry. • * All questions should be answered in the order in which they are published. 1-12 See terms and conditions below What happens next? There are 3 stages to this year’s incentive.

Stage 1: Each entrant will go into a pre-selection round where our judges will select and rank 15 businesses in each Group (1-15).

Stage 2: The top 15 businesses as selected by our Judges will have a profi le (picture and short write up on the business) published in the Somerset County Gazette where the public will be able to vote for their top business. Group A will be first, followed by Group B.

Stage 3: The outcome of the Judges' vote and the public votes will be combined to give an overall winner in each group. In the event of a tie the business with the highest public vote will be declared the winner. The Judging panel’s decision is final. All 30 finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony at The Castle Hotel on 2nd December at 6.30pm, where the winner will be announced. The evening will consist of networking and light buffet. The businesses who come 2nd and 3rd in each group will also be mentioned on the night. The cost of the event is £10 and can be pre-booked on The Castle Hotel’s website. The £10 charge is a commitment fee and is non-refundable or transferable. Unsuccessful entries will be notifi ed the week commencing 10th November via email or by telephone. All successful entries will be notified by telephone.

We believe all the businesses who enter the incentive will gain something from the very process of entering the competition. For the final 30 it is the chance to gain some exposure but also for everyone the 12 questions will really challenge you to take stock of your business. It is surprising what 10 – 20 minutes focusing on your business rather than being in it will achieve!

INCENTIVE /in’sentiv/ noun a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

ENTRY FORM

Answers should be typed, printed and attached to the entry form. Hand written answers will eliminate the entry

1 Summarise your business and why you entered the TBI? (max. 100 words)

2 Tell us about your business trade premises: HOME / RETAIL UNIT / COMMERCIAL UNIT / OFFICE / OTHER

3 Turnover in the last year / or projected turnover if a new business.

4 How long have you been trading?

5 Which stage do you feel best reflects your business: START-UP / GROWTH / MATURE

6 Tell us about your customer base: LOCAL / NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

7 Tell us about your supply chain: LOCAL / NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

8 How many employees do you have?

9 How do you market your business? (max. 50 words)

10 How would you like to improve, grow or change your business, and how do you think you might achieve this? (max. 100 words)

11 If you could have one person in your business for a week, who would that be, and why? (max. 50 words)

12 How would you use this incentive to help your business over the next twelve months?

Name of Business ............................................................................................................................................................. Turnover .............................................................................

Group A / B .......................................................................................

Contact name .............................................................................................................................................................

Contact number .................................................................

Contact email ...................................................................................

Address ......................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................

Postcode ...........................................................................................

Send your completed forms to: Taunton Business Incentive, Mr Martin Lock, Francis Clark LLP, Blackbrook Gate 1, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, TA1 2PX Entries must be received before the closing date of 30th October 2014.