A DRAGON'S Den-style competition to find a budding entrepreneur with a big future has been launched by Stretford Mall.

The prize for the winner will be a rent and rates free six months in a store at the shopping centre.

The only thing standing in the way of Trafford budding business brains is a grilling from the Stretford Mall business dragons, a panel of judges which will include Stretford Mall manager Colin McCrory.

Also on the panel entry will be Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, who was previously a member of the National Employment Panel, which advises government ministers on labour market policies.

We are very excited to launch Business Dragons.

Colin said: “Stretford Mall is at the heart of the community it serves as a place for our loyal visitors, more than four million a year, to come and shop and meet with family and friends.

“It is with this in mind that we wanted to offer a local person, with a great business idea, the chance to make their retail dream reality without most of the start-up costs which can be so prohibitive when you make that first, scary step.

“We are asking people to come forward and write to us with their ideas for their new business.

The news about the launch of Stretford Mall’s Win A Shop competition comes after the retail hub announced last week that TJ Hughes would be reopening at the shopping centre by the end of the month, creating 40 new jobs.

Ms Green said: “It’s great that Stretford Mall are giving one lucky local business the chance to get up and running without the prohibitive start-up costs.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing the different business ideas and I’d urge as many local entrepreneurs as possible to go for this brilliant opportunity.”

Entries should be emailed to customerhelpline@stretfordmall.co.uk or drop them into the management suite at Stretford Mall.

Closing date for entries is November 7.

Visit stretfordmall.com or Stretford Mall’s Facebook and Twitter pages for more information.