Have a great business idea?

What: The British Council invites applications for its Creative Future programme.

Details

~ The programme aims to identify and nurture a new generation of creative young entrepreneurs with exciting business ideas.

~ Developed with the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, UK experts and the Commonwealth Business Council, the programme provides an opportunity to present business ideas to leading business investors.

~ Twenty young people with a business idea in the creative sector will be selected to take part in the Creative Future School at IIM-B in August.

~ They will learn how to structure their business proposition, develop their networking skills, understand what an investor is looking for and hear from successful creative entrepreneurs about how they have built their businesses.

~ The faculty will include senior academics from IIM-B, leading figures from creative businesses in India and the UK and other experts.

~ Three finalists will visit the UK to meet with leading industry figures from within their sector and will have the chance to pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors.

~ In January 2007, the three finalists will have a chance to reprise their London experience in Mumbai and pitch to potential Indian investors.

~ At the end of this process, a panel of expert judges will also declare one overall winner, India's Creative Future 2007.

Programme fee

Both the Creative Future School at IIM-B and the UK visit are free for those who are selected to take part in this competition.

~ The British Council will provide accommodation and meals at IIM-B for the duration of the two-week school.

~ The British Council will also provide return flights from Delhi to London and accommodation and meals in the UK on the tour.

Are you eligible?

~ You must be between 18 to 35 years old.

~ You must want to build your career and business within the creative industries.

~ Your business idea must relate to one of the following sectors:

• Advertising
• Architecture
• Crafts
• Designer fashion
• Film and video
• Interactive leisure software including computer games
• Music
• Performing arts -- comedy, dance, theatre and the like
• Photography
• Publishing
• Radio
• Software
• Television
• Traditional Indian art forms
• Visual arts

Important date

~ Please send in your application before May 6.

How to apply

~ For additional information and the application form, visit www.britishcouncil.org.in/creativefuture.