Idea for a Creative Business

Creative? Got a great business idea? Want to know how to develop it into a real business proposition?

Then apply today to take part in the Creative Future programme.

Twenty young people with a business idea in the creative sector will be selected to take part in the Creative Future School at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore in August. There they’ll learn how to structure their business proposition, develop their networking skills, understand what an investor is looking for and hear from successful creative entrepreneurs about how they have built their businesses.

The faculty will include senior academics from IIMB, leading figures from creative businesses in India and the UK and other experts.In October 2006 three lucky finalists will visit the UK and meet with leading industry figures from within their sector. Whilst in London they will have the chance to pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors.In January 2007, the three finalists will have a chance to reprise their London experience in Mumbai, this time pitching to potential Indian investors. At the end of this process, the panel of expert judges will also decide which one of them should be declared the overall winner - India’s Creative Future 2007.

If you have the right idea then it could be you. Being creative and being an entrepreneur have one thing in common - understanding when to take a risk. If you take one risk today, download the application form (MS Word 180 KB) - it’s a potential passport to success, a life changing experience - you just have to apply.

Applications are invited between 10 April and 6 May 2006. For further details email creative.future@in.britishcouncil.org

Eligibility: You need to be aged between 18 to 35 years and you must want to build your career and business within the creative industries. So your business idea must relate to one of the following sectors:

• advertising
• architecture
• crafts
• designer fashion
• film and video
• interactive leisure software including computer games
• music
• performing arts - comedy, dance, theatre and the like
• photography
• publishing
• radio
• software
• television
• traditional Indian art forms
• visual arts

How much does it cost?

Both the Creative Future School and UK visit are free for those who are selected to take part.In the case of Creative Future School the British Council will provide accommodation and meals at IIMB for the duration of the two-week school.

In the case of the UK visit, the British Council will provide return flights from Delhi to London. Accommodation and meals will be provided whilst you are in the UK on the tour.

For details and application form please contact Shubha Patvardhan at the British Council India on (011) 23711401.