Eight local businesses have been confirmed as shortlisted applicants in the Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Jumpstart programme
BIPC Jumpstart was launched in November 2021 – a programme of grants, resources and support designed to help start-up businesses get set and grow. A total of £30k of grants is set to be awarded as a key benefit of the programme; as well as further prizes and business support packages.
The confirmed shortlist is:
- Annika Bennett, Acben Music – Cambridge
- Phil Carter, Bluewindow Training Ltd – Ely
- Amy Corney, Acorn Flower Farm – Ramsey
- Lisa Kent, REUSE2GO – Cambridge
- Verity Lott, Healthy marketing consultancy service – Peterborough
- Christopher Ord, SWIM – Hampton, Peterborough
- Emma Peters, GLO – St Neots
- Rebekah Watson, Rebekah Daven Photography – Wyton
To apply, business owners were asked to submit a formal application form and business plan, as well as participating in three or more BIPC business support activities. In their application, entrants were asked to highlight how a grant allocation (of up to a maximum of £5000) would make a difference to their business. Eligibility criteria required that businesses had to be registered within Cambridgeshire & Peterborough on or after 14 January 2021, or within two months of receiving the grant.
In total, BIPC Jumpstart applicants collectively requested over £200,000 worth of grant support; demonstrating the continuing need for funding for local pre-start and start-up businesses.
Applications were reviewed by three BIPC Jumpstart consultants: Councillor Lis Every (East Cambridgeshire), Tom Hennessey (Chief Executive of Opportunity Peterborough) and local restaurateur Andy Maul (Bygones in Wisbech). Consultants chose the final shortlist based on strict criteria, and will support and mentor the programme applicants in the run up to a live pitching event where the eventual winners will be chosen.
Speaking on behalf of the BIPC Jumpstart consultants who chose the shortlisted businesses, Tom Hennessy, Chief Executive of Opportunity Peterborough said:
“Reviewing the Jumpstart applications was a clear reminder as to the incredible breadth of pre-start and start-up businesses we have here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Whilst choosing our eventual shortlist was a challenge due to the outstanding level of entries received, we are hugely excited to announce our final eight businesses chosen to go through to the final stage. We look forward to seeing how they perform in the pitch further to our follow-up mentoring – and send our congratulations to them all.”
Shortlisted businesses are now planning their presentations to our BIPC Jumpstart pitch judges, taking place in a dedicated event at Cambridge Central Library on Mon 28 February 2022. Shortlisted business owners are in with a chance of securing up to £5000 in grant funding if chosen as a final winner; as well as further prizes and business support packages.
Pitch judges will judge the applicants on the merit of their pitch alone, before choosing and announcing our 2022 BIPC Jumpstart grant recipients later that week (Thu 2 March 2022).
The BIPC Jumpstart pitch judges who will choose the BIPC Jumpstart winners are:
- Julie Deane CBE – Founder and Chief Executive of The Cambridge Satchel Company
- Vic Annells – Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
- Danielle Bridge – Founder and Chief Executive of ABC Life Support
- Alex Hughes – Founder of Shift Momentum and Shifties
More information about the BIPC Jumpstart programme is available to view at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/BIPCjumpstart, with shortlist and pitch day promotions running across social media using the hashtag #BIPCjumpstart.
The Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire & Peterborough provides free and low-cost business support and advice to start-up business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors. From five BIPC libraries across the area – Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Peterborough and Wisbech – its in-house experts and incredible resources support pre-start and start-up businesses every day. The Centre is part of the British Library’s highly successful network of library-based BIPCs across England, and is delivered through Cambridgeshire County Council & Peterborough City Council.
