An award-winning training provider which has £40,000 to give away to budding Warwickshire entrepreneurs is calling on people to pitch their ideas to be in with a chance of receiving £1,000 to help start their own business.

PET-Xi is running a Business Futures programme, providing participants with a range of business support and advice as well as the opportunity to take part in a Dragon's Den-style pitch for the opportunity to receive a £1,000 grant to launch their idea.

The free six-week online programme is open to Warwickshire residents who are unemployed and includes sessions on business structure, registration, developing a business plan, social media, marketing and competitor analysis.

The course content is pre-recorded, enabling participants to take part at a time that suits them. Those taking part are also invited to take part in live weekly webinars, are allocated a business mentor and receive a free logo design.

At the end of the programme, participants will be invited to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and could be awarded one of 40 £1,000 grants.

PET-Xi founder Fleur Sexton, who was named National Business Woman of the Year 2017 at the Women of the Year Awards, which is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary, is now urging those with an idea to sign up.

Fleur said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for budding entrepreneurs in Warwickshire to learn more about setting up and running a business.

"The pandemic has resulted in a huge number of people having business ideas or re-evaluating their situations, and we want to support them.

"This could be someone who has recently launched their idea and is looking to develop this further, or someone who has an idea but doesn't know where to start.

"Everyone who takes part will also have the chance to pitch their idea to a panel to be in with a chance of receiving a £1,000 business grant.

"We have 40 grants available and want to give these to creative and sustainable businesses where £1,000 will make a real difference and support people to succeed. We can't wait to start hearing the pitches."

Business Futures is a government-funded programme through the UK Community Renewal Fund, which is allocated locally through Warwickshire County Council.

Participants must be aged between 16 and 65, unemployed and living in Warwickshire.

Further information and details on how to apply is available by calling Gary Drake, of PET-Xi, by calling 07852 030334 or emailing [email protected].