ASPIRING North-East entrepreneurs are being urged to enter a competition responsible for helping to boost a DJ's career, a second-hand clothing store chain and a public relations firm.

The If We Can You Can challenge (IWCYC), run by The Northern Echo alongside the Entrepreneurs' Forum, wants to help people gain a foothold in the industry.

The competition, now in its sixth year, has prizes worth more than £17,000, including First Deal investment, mentoring and professional advice from Yorkshire Bank, Onyx, Ward Hadaway, PWC and Rivers Capital.

Last year, IWCYC helped 17-year-old DJ, Leroy Allen, of Willington, County Durham, who runs Fabrik Events, which offers club night experiences for hundreds of 11 to 16-year-olds across the region.

Mr Allen's success saw him invited to a Fat Boy Slim gig in the Houses of Parliament and play at the Ministry of Sound Superclub, in London.

He said: “By the time I was 14 I wanted to DJ, but all the clubs brushed me off because of my age, so I went around the leisure centres asking to put in discos.

“Winning IWCYC put me in touch with some really good people and the publicity increased my profile, so I would definitely recommend it.”

Other winners include Gill Walker, from Darlington, with her community interest company, Patchwork People, that runs a chain of shops selling second-hand clothing and fashion accessories run by young people, and Charlotte Nichols, who has seen her PR consultancy firm, Harvey and Hugo, grow considerably after being spotted in IWCYC.

Eight candidates will be selected to present their ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs and business professionals, with the final three going head-to head in a Northern Echo readers' vote in July.

The deadline for entries is Friday, June 21, with the winners announced in September.

For more information, visit ifwecanyoucan.co.uk