Ignite searches for people with bright business ideas

Ignite has launched its national roadshow for 2015, which is looking for people with a bright business idea that uses energy to make a difference to people’s lives.

The ideas will be pitched to a panel of experts with successful applicants receiving a package of pre-investment support that could potentially lead to an investment of up to £2 million.

The Ignite roadshow is open to anyone with a bright business idea that uses energy, meets the requirement of making a difference to people’s lives and needs help in getting the idea investment ready. The idea will eventually be looking for an investment of between £50,000 and £2 million by the end of 2015.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to a panel of industry and social enterprise experts in June 2015.

The application process is now open and the final deadline for entrepreneurs to submit their ideas is 15 May 2015. For more information and to apply, please visit: ignitesocialenterprise.com/challenge/

Ignite is the UK’s first impact investment fund with a focus on energy. Together with backing from Centrica PLC (the UK’s largest energy supplier), Ignite will provide funding of £10 million over the next ten years through investments in the UK of between £50,000 and £2 million.

Sarwjit Sambhi, Managing Director of Centrica Energy Exploration & Production and member of the Ignite Investment Committee, said: “The best ideas are often the ones that start small. Energy is relevant to each and every one of us and Centrica is delighted to be able to support Ignite on the national roadshow.

"Ignite works to help entrepreneurs with the vital role they play in building a better society. We encourage anybody who has a bright energy idea and who wants to make a positive difference to apply. I am personally looking forward to meeting many of these entrepreneurs in 2015.”