ENTREPRENEURS who can make a difference to the future of the regional economy and whose businesses have the potential to thrive are today urged to enter the third year of the If We Can, You Can challenge.

The challenge, which has seen hundreds of entries over the past two years and thousands of votes cast, is again calling for people who are thinking of starting a business, or who are growing their existing enterprise, to put themselves forward and tell their story.

If We Can, You Can – run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and supported by The Northern Echo – looks to re-instill a spirit of enterprise and a can-do culture to the region, and to inspire people nurturing a business idea to follow their dream and become an entrepreneur.

Despite the economic downturn, If We Can, You Can has built up a community of more than 750 entrepreneurs, both new and established, and has been credited as giving the confidence and resources to scores of people to become entrepreneurs.

The two previous winners and runners-up in The Northern Echo’s challenge were judged to be among the cream of the North-East’s entrepreneurial talent, and have gone on to thrive.

The winners – Matt Scott, founder of trainer design company MES Footwork, and Esther Dingley, who runs Durham University- based PostGraduate Toolbox, and runners-up Karen Forster, owner of Trampas the Mens’ Room, in Durham, and Claire Mitchell, of men’s makeup company astonmitchell – have all gone on to grow their businesses, and all attribute the spike in their success to entering the If We Can, You Can challenge.

Carole Beverley, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “The If We Can, You Can challenge is about celebrating and encouraging people with the vision, passion and determination to make a business work.

“This year, more than ever before, entrepreneurship is at the forefront of the region’s economy and presents an exciting, independent career option for those looking to realise their enterprising potential or who simply want to take their career in a new direction.

“There is no reason why the economic downturn should affect anyone with entrepreneurial aspirations. Today’s business environment is ripe with opportunity for innovation and instead of dwelling on fears, it’s a great time to grab chances that arise.”

The challenge is open for entries from today, for eight weeks, with a judging panel then selecting two finalists who will be put to a public vote. The winner will be announced in June.