An Exciting Opportunity for Wiltshire entrepreneurs to pitch to a BBC Dragon!
Wiltshire entrepreneurs are being offered the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a real ‘Dragon’ at next month’s West Wiltshire Business Expo.
The flagship West Wiltshire Business Expo, taking place at The Civic in Trowbridge on Thursday 8th October, is inviting early-stage, product-based business founders preparing for their first investment, the opportunity to pitch their investment proposal to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and business mentors, including former BBC Dragons Den investor, Nick Jenkins, founder of Moonpig.com.
Nick has lived in Wiltshire since 2010 and founded the online greeting cards and gifting company Moonpig in 1999 after an 8-year career as a commodity trader with Glencore in Moscow. The business grew to five million customers before it was sold in 2011 for £120 million and was then floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2021 with a valuation of £1.2 billion. Nick’s wide-ranging investment portfolio features low carbon tech and biotech businesses.
This ‘Get Investment Ready’ Dragons’ Den will offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to test their pitches in front of experienced business mentors and to receive constructive feedback and valuable advice to help prepare them for their first investment pitches.
Nick said: “I am very excited to be helping Wiltshire businesses on their journey. The Dragons Den is a great opportunity for the founders of Wiltshire businesses to fine tune their business pitches and get ready for their first investments”.
Joining Nick on the Dragons Den panel will be Monty George, co-founder of Wiltshire’s online furniture brand Furniturebox, which has a turnover exceeding £25m and recently opened a £3m state-of-the-art distribution centre in Chippenham. The company’s rapid growth saw Monty named in the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list and the business featured in the Sunday Times list of fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years.
Monty started Furniturebox with his friend Dan Beckles in 2015, while still at school. He said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in the Dragon’s Den panel at the West Wiltshire Business Expo. Having started Furniturebox at 17, I understand first-hand many of the challenges young entrepreneurs face when building a business. I’m looking forward to sharing some of the experiences and lessons I’ve learned along the way and to hopefully offering some useful advice to those taking their own ideas forward.”
The third Dragon Den panellist is Wiltshire entrepreneur and angel investor Joanna Jenson, who built Childs Farm into the UK’s No.1 baby and child toiletries brand, before selling the business to PZ Cussons in 2022 for £68 million. Today she chairs the EIS Association, sits on boards and writes a regular column for The Sunday Times.
Young entrepreneurs looking for pitching practice, valuable feedback, publicity and business advice from the Dragons are invited to email dragons@trowbridgechamber.com to request a Dragons Den application form.
The West Wiltshire Business Expo, which is free to attend, is organised by the Trowbridge Chamber CIC, one of the largest business groups in Wiltshire, in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and will bring together industry leaders, emerging talent and forward-thinking organisations shaping Wiltshire’s economic future.
The Expo features 40+ regional business exhibitors and offers an excellent opportunity for ambitious businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators to network, promote their brands and learn about the latest business insights, tech and strategies.
The packed, one-day agenda includes inspirational speakers sharing their expertise on a wide range of subjects including AI, Marketing, Tech, Business Finance, Cyber Security, Accounting & Tax Initiatives, HR, Wellbeing in the Workplace, Skills & Apprentices, Sustainability and Investing in Wiltshire.
Speakers include the Leader and Cabinet Members of Wiltshire Council, West Wiltshire MPs, Wiltshire Town Mayors, and the CEOs and Directors of some of Wiltshire’s largest businesses, including Apetito, Nutricia, Good Energy, Danone, Wiltshire Farm Foods and Wiltshire College & University Centre.
Event sponsors include Monahans, Nutricia, Goughs Solicitors, FSB Funding Platform, Capitalise, FSB Healthcare, Santé Group, Business West, SWIG Finance and Wiltshire College & University Centre.
Whether you are scaling your business, exploring investment, launching a start-up, or embracing new technology, the West Wiltshire Business Expo offers businesses the opportunity to showcase their brands and build strong local connections.
Free tickets to the West Wiltshire Business Expo can be booked via Eventbrite
For further information, contact Megan at info@trowbridgechamber.com for the few remaining exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.
