THRIVE Trafford is giving go-getters in Trafford the opportunity to develop and pitch their social enterprise ideas to a group of business experts to be in with the chance of winning start-up funding.

Individuals with social enterprise ideas are now able to register to take part in Thrive Trafford’s 2015 ‘Social Enterprise Challenge’.

The challenge will run over four days during late September, with the final event on October 2 at Lancashire County Cricket Club Foundation (LCCC Foundation).

The first three days will comprise of training and support from Thrive Trafford, during which attendees will be supported to develop their business skills, including how best to pitch and showcase their social enterprise idea to the business experts. Each social entrepreneur will then have three minutes to pitch their idea to the panel members at the end of programme Challenge Event.

Chris Hart, managing director of Pulse Regeneration and contract manager for Thrive Trafford, who will be delivering the challenge with colleague Caroline Lewis from Thrive, said: “I’m really excited to be delivering the Social Enterprise Challenge again and being able to support and help develop budding social entrepreneurs across the borough.

"The challenge will give individuals and groups in Trafford the opportunity to develop their ideas to benefit the Trafford community and have a positive impact on local people. Thrive Trafford has always been keen to support the growth of social enterprise, and feel this is an excellent opportunity for local people to access top class business expertise and support from Thrive and their partners.”

Trafford Council will provide the person with the best social enterprise idea a start up grant prize of £3,000, along with two runners up each winning £1,000, along with business mentoring support from Thrive Trafford and partners to help start up their social enterprise.

All attendees of the Challenge will also be given the opportunity to develop their idea further over the next year with help from Thrive Trafford and partners through peer support and business mentoring.

For further information about the event or to apply visit -www.thrivetrafford.org.uk/news/social-enterprise-challenge-2015/ or contact Caroline Lewis – project coordinator at Thrive Trafford on Caroline.Lewis@thrivetrafford.org.uk