Airline links up with small firms for contest

Businesspeople have the chance to win one of five free round-trip tickets to the U.K.

The air travel is being offered by British Airways in a bid to give the island’s entrepreneurs, company owners and social enterprises a way to boost their businesses.

Although firms can use conference calls or web conferencing to connect with suppliers, potential partners and experts abroad, BA says research has shown face-to-face contact is the most effective way to seal a deal.

To give islanders the chance to make this happen, BA is offering round-trips in November as part of the Face-2-Face contest, held in conjunction with the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation and its Economic Empowerment Zones Agency (EEZA).

Hopefuls must submit an essay of between 250 and 500 words explaining how a face-to-face meeting in the U.K. would benefit their business in Bermuda.

Applications should also include details of who or what organisation you would like to meet in Britain.

Entries will be judged on four criteria — the company’s goals and objectives, a clear vision of how the travel opportunity will benefit Bermuda and the firm, what business objective can be gained by face-to-face meetings rather than remote communications and the entrepreneur’s articulation and style.

Applications focusing on social responsibility, environment sustainability and youth development are encouraged.

Participants in this contest — Bermudian entrepreneurs and Permanent Resident Certificate holders — will also have the opportunity to be involved in Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 15-21. 

GEW is a worldwide initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, with participation from countries across six continents.

The winners of the Face-2-Face contest will be invited to participate in events held in London and organized by Global Entrepreneurship Week U.K. 

The events are run by the co-founding organisation of the week, Enterprise U.K.

For more details, visit www.bsbdc.bm. Entries can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the BSBDC office at Sofia House, 48 Church Street.  The deadline is September 30.