Entrepreneurs from across the country once again have a chance to make their business dreams come true by facing the ‘Dragons’ and potentially winning a large cash investment.

If you’re a green business, genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, they’d like to hear from you.

The last series saw some of the most diverse range of inventions and business ideas receive offers of cash from the multi-millionaire investors.

All the Dragons were won over by entrepreneur Sharon Wright and the simplicity of her cable wiring device; Rupert Sweet-Escott went into business with James Caan who was impressed with his unique range of aviation designs and prototypes; and Carol Savage chose to accept Deborah Meaden’s offer of a cash injection into her tasty new food networking website.

In fact, when the Den finally closed for business an incredible 15 entrepreneurs had managed to convince the fearsome financiers, they were worthy of their cash.

Previous success stories in the Den include Brixton based Levi Roots who secured an investment of £50,000 for his secret recipe, Reggae Reggae Sauce. Just four weeks after his appearance on the programme, his Dragon investors helped him launch his sauce in a major supermarket all over the country. Now Levi has increased his product range to eight sauces, produced a Caribbean cook book, and won Best New Product at the World Food Awards 2009, even going on to present his own successful BBC Television series – Caribbean Food Made Easy. Levi says that thanks to the Dragons he has a business empire that is now valued in the millions.

The rules are simple: entrepreneurs ask for a cash investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get at least the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing. The Dragons are prepared to listen to a pitch for any kind of business but they must be convinced that it will make money.

As demonstrated by the investments in the last seven series, ideas, businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a good chance of securing the Dragons’ interest:

• A Unique Selling Point: a product that serves a need like nothing else.
• Scalability: something that can be up scaled to make real money.
• Route to Market: the clear way the product can be sold and marketed.
• Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: just what will the Dragons get out of it?
• Exit Strategy: a plan of how the entrepreneur/Dragon will exit and make money.

The BBC is currently searching for Britain’s best entrepreneurs and will be auditioning throughout the coming months. They want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to enter the Dragons’ Den.

If you would like an application form send an email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden

Read our article by Saira Khan from The Apprentice on running a successful ethical business.

ENJO is a range of patented Fibre Technology products that are made in Austria and distributed in over 25 countries worldwide.

We have vacancies all over the UK/Scotland/Wales/Channel Islands and Northern Ireland for motivated people who want a business that offers the following

ENJO – FEATURES AND BENEFITS

SAVES HOUSEHOLDS UP TO 74% ON THEIR CLEANING PRODUCTS CERTIFICATION – 6.5 TIMES BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL METHODS NO PLASTIC BOTTLES – NO PAPER PACKAGING, NO FUMES OR TOXINS NO HOT WATER – SAVES ENERGY – USES ONLY COLD WATER PROTECTS HEALTH – PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT – PRODUCTS CAN BE RE-CYCLED CERTIFIED PRODUCTS – THAT DO WHAT THEY SAY ON “THE TIN” SAVES UP TO 50% IN TIME FOR USERS

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ENJO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

YOUR OWN BUSINESS - IN YOUR OWN AREA AND SURROUNDING AREAS BUY IN £199.00 – WHICH INCLUDES OVER £300.00 OF PRODUCTS FLEXI HOURS – FULL OR PART TIME TO SUIT YOU ONGOING FULL PRODUCT TRAINING UK HEAD OFFICE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT – DESPATCH SUPPORT – ACTIVE PR ACTIVITIES YOUR OWN ENJO EMAIL ADDRESS - ENJO INTRANET FACILITIES BRAND NEW WEB SITE – WITH REFERRALS TO CONSULTANTS WHERE APPLICABLE OPPORTUNTIES TO MANAGE A TEAM INCENTIVES AND REWARDS

ENJO ARE MEMBERS OF THE DSA AND ABIDE BY THEIR CODE OF PRATICE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THE NEWLY LAUNCHED – EDELWEISS SKINCARE FROM ENJO

The position on offer is highly influential- for example holding responsibility for a number of staff, budgetary and financial control, and helping with the strategic direction of the charity’s future steps. It provides a large remit to build on the existing success of the charity by engaging with key stakeholders, both internally and externally, to communicate the significant message. Other responsibilities include:

• Monitoring, evaluating and improving the performance of the centres.
• Accountable for ensuring staff are implementing correct processes and policies
• Ensuring learner feedback is regularly sought

As this role is so diverse in nature, the successful candidate will be a strong communicator at all levels. They will deliver inspired leadership, have the ability to implement strategic plans and be focused at all times on the right outcomes for learners. It is required that the post-holder will hold a Level 4 qualification (or equivalent) in the management of teaching and learning, and it is preferred that they will have experience in operations management, implementing change and a solid knowledge of the work based learning or education sectors. This position is a great career move if you are seeking a position of influence in a job that makes a difference to a large section of society, in a charity that is set to grow fast.

On a day to day basis the role requires the successful design and delivery of practical projects focused on health and well-being- namely finding solutions to tackle ageing. My client is seeking to innovate to turn the concept of ageing as a negative phenomenon on its head- by extending opportunities to those in their late careers, designing new models of social care, and use creative methods to re-frame it as a positive challenge.

Initially on a pilot basis, each project will require end to end management to include project design, tool kit development, partnership development, contract and budget management, shared learning targeting and replication. An ability to work collaboratively, and manage relationships on a range of levels is absolutely fundamental, as is an ability to work flexibly and effectively on a range of projects simultaneously, across various different sectors.

Other key skills for this position include:

• A record of success in the design of pilot projects to deliver learning
• An intricate knowledge of innovation policy and practice, preferably within the public sphere
• A strong project management record
• Strong stakeholder relationship management

This role will provide you with great exposure to a world where innovation is everything, and the delivery of solutions to some very challenging questions is your goal.