Reported on Mon, 08 May 2006

A nationwide search for the country's most enterprising businesspeople began today, but aspiring entrepreneurs could take out business loans to get their own start-up underway.

Nominations are now open for the Barclays Trading Places Awards, which is aiming to find the businessmen and women in the UK who have achieved commercial success after starting out with nothing.

The awards are being supported by successful British business pioneers such as Sir Richard Branson, Bernie Ecclestone and Dame Anita Roddick – who recently sold her stake in the Body Shop to L'Oreal for £117 million.

Her advice for the budding businessperson is to ensure complete self-reliance, saying: "Don't ask your family for money, don't employ management consultants, don't deny yourself a wage, don't deny yourself a life either. Be brave, daring and different."

Meanwhile, Sir Richard agreed that UK residents should throw caution to the wind and take the risks necessary to be a successful entrepreneur.

He said: "Nothing ventured – nothing gained! A business is its people – nothing else. Look after them and the business will flourish."

The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony at London's Cafe Royal in the autumn, with cash prizes in the offing.

Enterprising individuals looking to stake a claim in the business world could use a business loan to get themselves on the first rung.

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