GOT a bright business idea worthy of Dragons’ Den? An invention which could change the way we live? A small business with potential to become a multinational with the right backing?

A cool £15,000 is available to help ambitious Essex entrepreneurs move into the big time.

The Echo and our sister paper, the Colchester Gazette, are teaming up with Essex’s answer to the Dragons’ Den team, the Business Knights, to offer three free consultancy packages, support programmes, which would normally cost £5,000 each.

Entrants are invited to fill in the questionnaire at www.bizzy businesssolutions.com /competition by December 1.

After that, the entries will be assessed by a panel of judges, including members of the Business Knights network.

Winners will be given carefully-tailored advice from some of the most experienced businesspeople in Essex, operating as a network under the Bizzy Business Solutions banner.

One of the network’s members, associate adviser Val Rozga, from Hullbridge, explained: “Bizzy Business Solutions has been created as a social enterprise community interest company.

“The idea is to offer something we thought was missing on the Essex business scene.

“We identified a call for practical, affordable advice and assistance, covering all business needs, provided by people who have spent years running their own successful businesses.

“We want to be looked upon as the white knights of the business world. Our whole purpose is to solve organisations’ headaches and help make business less stressful and more profitable.”

Val runs an established business consultancy firm, Connect Success, which helps fledgling companies in their early growth periods.

Other members are specialists in fields such as marketing, IT, financing, business growth, exporting, media, HR, and print and packaging.

The network also offers special reduced-cost packages to charities and social enterprises.

It offers free advice to former members of the Armed Forces, injured in combat and now planning to start their own business. This part of the service is being channelled through the Help for Heroes charity.

Usual Newsquest Essex terms and conditions apply to the competition. Copies available on request.