I may not have mentioned but I’m a judge in the forthcoming Spark Notts business startup competition. Probably nobody else was available This is a great honour which I am of course looking forward to.

Prizes include a year’s free office space at one of Oxford Innovation’s Nottinghamshire Innovation Centres, business coaching and a huge package of business support prizes worth £40,000 in total. Worth avin.

I have always been somewhat sceptical of “business support” services but in reality lots of people starting up in business are doing it without having had prior experience. This kind of support can therefore be very useful, as is free office space. Better to have a workplace to “go to” rather than doing everything out of your spare bedroom which you should be letting to a lodger to help with cashflow in the difficult early stage of the game:)

The competition is open to folk in Nottinghamshire and there is still time to get your entry in – details here. Maybe I’ll get to see you.

Editorial footnote – I am quite often heard to say that I can be bought but on this occasion it is not the case. I have promised to be totally impartial and objective. Even if your idea is for a microbrewery or an Indian takeaway business.