A new venture to support and promote budding entrepreneurs in the area will take off this summer.

Those in the early stages of starting a new business will have an opportunity to pitch their ideas before a panel of judges and 30,000 people at the Hertfordshire County Show on May 25 and 26.

The first ever Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire’s Entrepreneurs Challenge will see young business people in the county bid for a cash prize, as well as financial and legal, marketing and branding advice, and access to the University of Hertfordshire’s incubator hub.

The show has been organised by the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society and supported by Julie Newlan, pro vice-chancellor for business and international development at the University of Hertfordshire; Lisa Bates-Wallis of St Albans chamber of commerce and Bill Morrow, founder of Angels Den and Keynote International Speaker.

Criteria for entrants includes:

• An innovative and enterprising idea

• Agricultural relevance is not necessary

• Businesses must have been running for less than three years

• Idea can be a service or a product

• Businesses must have the potential for growth

Lord Lieutenant Robert Voss said: “We undervalue young entrepreneurship and I want to encourage young people to have a go at starting a business.”

Mr Voss has been a judge and mentor for Young Enterprise in Hertfordshire. He also established and ran a young entrepreneurs challenge and has been a regular judge for the National Business Awards since 2006.

For more information contact Sarah Moreland, Hertfordshire Agricultural Society executive director office@hertsshow.com or go to www.hertsshow.com Entries must be in by February 28.