Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Bees’ Nest competition, the 2024 event, held on the hottest day of the year so far, managed to attract even more participants and attendees. Local businesses gathered at the Lyndhurst Community Centre on June 26 to showcase their products and services and compete for a £1,000 cash prize, fostering a strong sense of community spirit and mutual support.
Organised by The IncuHive Group in partnership with New Forest District Council, the event provided an exciting platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their businesses and vie for the £1,000 cash prize.
Once again, 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’s win was very popular with the audience. She expressed her surprise and gratitude: “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.”
‘The Bee’s Nest’ competition not only showcased the remarkable talent and innovation within the New Forest area but 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.
