The phones have been red hot with enquiries since the South East Hampshire Enterprise Agencies (SEHEA) launched a search for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up fast growth new businesses.

Aiming to create thriving enterprises from scratch in just two years, the BLAST (business Link Accelerated STart-up) 2000 programme takes teams of energetic, experienced business people, such as directors, engineers and other senior professionals, and matches them to strong business opportunities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Backed by Business Link Hampshire, Business Link Isle of Wight and SEHEA, BLAST 2000 offers mentoring, advice and other business support from a range of organisations to each team for the first two years of trading.

"All the evidence suggests that team based businesses can be up to ten times more effective than a person on their own," says Tim Austin, managing director of SEHEA. "The range of experience and expertise the team members bring, together with the sounding board they provide for each other, gives a business the best possible start.

"Initial reaction to the scheme has been amazing - the phones have been red hot with enquiries - and we hope this is an indication of the future success of the project."

It is anticipated that each new business will have the potential of employing ten people within the first two years of operation. Explains Tim: "Some of the entrepreneurs may come with ideas for businesses, but it's not vital. We are looking for dedicated people who want to do more than simply earn a living. We want ambitious individuals who want to make a profit, employ other people and have fun.

"Interested entrepreneurs should have capital available, and will make a contribution to the cost of the heavily-subsidised programme, but the return on their investment could be substantial."

Two BLAST awareness evenings are being held to give potential participants further information - one on Tuesday, November 23 at Eastleigh Posthouse Hotel and the other on Thursday, November 25 at Basingstoke Hilton National Hotel. Speakers will include business people involved with the first BLAST project two years ago, talking about how the scheme worked for them and helped them get their product off the ground. The awareness evenings are then followed by a rigorous selection process of interviews and assessments, leading up to a number of one-day sessions, starting next January, to learn about the details of business planning and running a successful business.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.