James Dawson, founder and director of Harrogate-based T Plus drinks, explains why the business should win the innovation in funding category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition.
I’ve been an FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) business owner in waiting for the last nine years, since I left university. After living and working abroad I finally bit the bullet and handed in my notice at a big IT firm and moved back to the UK to start T Plus last year.
Having no experience in FMCG and no savings, I quickly realised the costs involved in starting a drinks business were quite substantial. That’s why I entered a competition in April called Grocery Accelerator to win £50,000 in funding and six months industry mentorship.
It involved pitches, interviews and workshops. After four intense selection rounds and pitches to industry buyers and investors I was chosen as a winner in April, out of 130 other new food and drink brands. I secured the essential funding and access to industry mentors.
This has helped T Plus to grow rapidly and has given us the start we need to establish ourselves in the UK drinks market.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
