Best foot forward for Bootcamp '09

By [pwisdom] matt fleming

PLYMOUTH'S second Entrepreneurs' Bootcamp event will begin on Monday.

The challenge – which aims to give the seven participants five years'-worth of business experience in as many days – will take place throughout next week.

The first event was held in March 2007 and the challenge this year aims to build on its success.

The 2007 Bootcamp saw 11 business wannabes taking part in mental and physical challenges including exercises with the Royal Marines.

They also got the chance to meet finance experts and pick the business brains of people such as puzzle entrepreneur Danny Bamping.

All the participants have now moved forward with their business ideas to either expand their companies or actually start trading.

One of the organisers, Sue Windley, of Pragmatic Performance Group Ltd, said this year's Bootcamp would be divided into three parts: the five-day immersion event which would take place next week, then monthly workshop meetings where various activities would happen as a follow-up for one year, as well as mentoring meetings each month with each Bootcamper to keep their business ideas on track.

The exact details of what await the Bootcampers – who were recruited through a Dragons' Den-style competition – are being kept as a secret for the first part of the challenge, taking place next week.

The participants will be Freyr Cruyws of Star Playa, who has been sponsored by the Millfields Trust: Olly Daglish from Ollypop, sponsored by Sun Microsystems and Kelway UK Ltd: Charlotte Dymond, a strength and conditioning coach, who i ssponsored by University College St Mark and St John (Marjon): Matt Gregory, of Blackcurrant Beastie, who is self-sponsored through the Bootcamp: Joedy Lawrence, of Independent Utilities Ltd, also self-sponsored through the Bootcamp: Neil Trigger, of Myo International, sponsored by the Tamar Science Park: and Ranhsher Sanghera, who works in social enterprise and has been sponsored by Grubs Up Catering and Plymouth Discovery Tours.

"We're particularly excited about this year's challenge," said Sue.

"Everybody's talking about the recession and we want to challenge people to start up a business during it. The Bootcamp accelerates the start-up of the participants' businesses and will build on what we achieved in 2007."