Just a few days remain to enter an Essex County Council-funded competition for small businesses and start-ups to boost your business to the tune of £4,300.

The Essex Big Business Boost is a brand new free business competition, funded by the Essex Innovation Programme, created to do exactly what it says on the tin – boost business in Essex.

The competition is open to any pre start-up, new business or established micro business based in Essex.

Support will be delivered by Essex’s local enterprise agencies, with various levels of support packages including business support as well as cash prizes to be won.

The ultimate winner will receive a prize totalling £4,300 including £3,000 cash to help ‘boost’ their business.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Infrastructure, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to boost their existing businesses or kick-start their new ones.

"It shows once more that Essex means business, and the county council are there to ensure that Essex remains a flourishing business hub.”

The winners of Big Business Boost won’t necessarily be the most profitable business or the one with the biggest turnover – instead the winners will be the business ideas and concepts that excite the judges with innovation and imagination.

The Big Business Boost will allow ECC to ensure the county’s most exciting business ideas, concepts and potential find the resources they need to help to develop into the successful businesses of tomorrow and help Essex continue its proud entrepreneurial tradition.

It’s free, it’s easy, and businesses are guaranteed to win business support with prize values ranging from £60 to £4,300. Entry is online and only takes 300 words.

Full details of the Big Business Boost can be found online at www.essexbusinessboost.co.uk.

Here you will find more information on the competition, including details of the three categories you can enter.

If you are interested in taking part, please enter as soon as possible. Fill out the online application by the closing date of Friday, July 3.

The Essex Innovation Programme works with established companies and small businesses to help them to develop, and take to market, innovative products and services.

Find out more at www.essexinnovation.co.uk Essex County Council is currently running an Essex Means Business campaign that aims to put Essex firmly on the map as the place to be for innovation, skills and enterprise.

Follow the campaign on social media by searching #EssexMeansBusiness.