Returning New Forest business competition makes an even bigger buzz in its second year

A New Forest competition offering businesses the chance to showcase their products and services while competing for a £1,000 prize managed to attract even more participants and attendees in its second year running.

The Bee’s Nest Competition, organised by The IncuHive Group in partnership with New Forest District Council, saw a variety of businesses gathering at Lyndhurst Community Centre on the 26th June.

A diverse array of locally-based businesses competed for the top prize. This year’s entrants included Tim Anson (Fast Forward), Natasha Williams-Farr (The Hearing Clinic Hampshire), Jenny Clark (Wild Times/Sauna on Sea), Debra Watkins (DW Plastering & Decorating), Sue Richardson (Husse New Forest), and Ashleigh Mutimear-MacMillan (I AM Group).

The panel of judges, comprising Rob Dewing from the Federation of Small Business and the New Forest Business Partnership, former Dragon’s Den contestant Kate Bell of Zip Us In, Roya Croudace of The Hampshire Growth Hub, and IncuHive’s CEO George Scott-Welsh, faced the challenging task of selecting a winner. Ultimately, they unanimously agreed that Debra Watkins was the deserving recipient.

Debra commented: “Winning was more than I could have dreamed of, especially considering the strong competition.

“I plan to invest part of the prize money in more personalised advertising to help the DW Plastering name reach a wider audience who may not be internet users.

“Additionally, I aim to take further training courses to expand my current services. The event provided a wealth of useful information from the speakers, and I’ve already implemented some of their advice.”

Along with showcasing the talent and innovation within the New Forest area, The Bees Nest also highlighted the collaborative efforts of IncuHive and New Forest District Council in supporting local entrepreneurs.

New Forest District Council’s Start Up Support programme and the Bees Nest competition aim to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling businesses to flourish, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the local economy.

• https://incuhive.co.uk/
• https://www.newforest.gov.uk/