FIVE of the region’s top emerging business leaders yesterday pitched their ideas to the judging panel of the If We Can, You Can entrepreneurial challenge.

The five were chosen from more than 100 entries to be shortlisted in the challenge, which seeks to find the businesses and their founders which have the most potential to succeed and become key players in the North-East economy for the future.

Among the diverse range of businesses selected were a male make-up company, a service to advertise student properties, and a firm which helps improve the appearance of rooms and events by supplying linen and chair covers.

Yesterday, all five pitched their ideas to the judges, who hailed them all as being outstanding.

They scored each of the entrants on vision, concept and drive during their 20- minute session, and the two with the highest marks will become the If We Can, You Can finalists.

The finalists, to be announced next Thursday, will be subject to a four-week public vote, which will be combined with the judges’ scores to decide the winner.

The winner in the challenge, run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and supported by The Northern Echo, will be announced on June 11, and will become a Face of Entrepreneurship for the North- East for 2009.

They will also receive £5,000 of business services, a business gadget, a year’s membership of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and “money can’t buy” business mentoring from some of the region’s leading business figures.

The challenge saw more than 100 entries from aspiring business leaders, and more than 500 entrepreneurs have now joined the If We Can, You Can online community, where aspiring business figures can seek advice and mentoring from some of the North-East’s most renowned entrepreneurs.

Yesterday, Margaret Fay, chairwoman of regional development agency One North East, gave her backing to the campaign, which is helping to achieve the aims of the Regional Economic Strategy.

The strategy has said that to achieve the region’s target of growing the economy to 90 per cent of the UK’s average, between 18,500 and 22,000 VAT-registered businesses need to be set up by 2016.

“I am pleased to support the If We Can, You Can challenge, which provides a great chance for the next generation of North-East England’s entrepreneurs to showcase themselves,”

she Ms Fay.

“The region is home to a growing number of business start-ups that are succeeding despite the downturn and through the work of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum we can maximise the opportunity to make the most of the creativity and talent found in the North-East's business community."

* Pictured, from left: Andrew Keeble, from Debbie and Andrew’s;Chris Simpson, from Business Link; Karen Foster, from Trampas Men’s Room; Jean Featherstone, from NECC; and The Northern Echo’s Nigel Burton.

In the running for challenge title

● CLAIRE MITCHELL, who created the astonmitchell online men’s make-up business with her friend Kate Jones. The Barnard Castle-based business receives orders from around the world, and has been chosen as one of only a handful of outlets globally to stock the make-up range made by Michelle Probst, personal make-up artist to President Barack Obama.

● SARAH PITTENDRIGH, who set up Simply Bows and Chair Covers after being made redundant and having a nine-year-old son to support. The company, based in Consett, County Durham, makes chair covers and accessories to buy or hire for weddings, private parties and corporate events. She is now working with numerous venues around the North-East and is considering franchising the business.

● MATTHEW HEAP, founder of StuRents Limited, a free service to landlords and letting agents which allows them to advertise their student properties and gives businesses the opportunity to communicate directly with the student population. He has now registered the OlympicRents.com domain name to expand the company by offering rental properties during London 2012. Mr Heap also intends to move into the ski rental market through the SkiRents subsidiary.

● NICOLE RACE, founder of New Tastes, which sources unusual and gourmet items from around the world. Ms Race, from Darlington, sells the main bulk of her goods through hosting parties and through her developing relationships with local businesses, and is drawing up a sales strategy to further develop her business plan.

● ESTHER DINGLEY, who set up PostGrad Room, a recruitment and training agency that gives postgraduates the ability to showcase their additional training and skills over other graduate jobseekers.