Budding entrepreneurs are encouraged to enter a new competition to find the next big future social entrepreneur.

Richmond business minds will have a chance to win a prize package of grants and support worth £10,000, as part of Richmond’s Den - a project aimed to encourage people with a business idea to take the first step, or take the next step if they have already started in business.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, Richmond’s cabinet member for communities, business and culture, said the competition aimed to help resourceful and entrepreneurial residents make a real difference to the local economy.

She said: “It will help people get ‘one foot on the ladder’, and encourage them to really think about how social enterprise can help them realise their ambitions and, at the same time, deliver the wider social or environmental value that is at the very heart of social enterprise.”

A joint venture by the council and Richmond Social Enterprise Partnership, Richmond Den wants entries from people who can demonstrate how their proposals could be viable, sustainable and could grow with the right support, while focusing on a social or environmental objective.

Enter online with a 500 word business proposal from Monday, March 19, until Sunday, May 6. Details are available at richmondsden.co.uk.