Peter WalshA Norfolk champion of women in business has joined a Dragons Den-style panel on a Norfolk council and has urged women entrepreneurs to get their applications in for the top prize.Peter Walsh

A Norfolk champion of women in business has joined a Dragons Den-style panel on a Norfolk council and has urged women entrepreneurs to get their applications in for the top prize.

Sophie Garrett, director of internet-based business yours2share, chairs the Women in Rural Enterprise network (WiRE) in Norwich and set up her new enterprise just three years ago.

Now she has agreed to enter South Norfolk Council's Den as a Dragon, encouraging women to come forward and claim the prize of free office space for a year at the council's Loddon Business Centre, including business rates paid for the first year.

She said: 'This is a terrific opportunity for a young local business to make the next big step forward.'

News of the competition is now buzzing along WiRE networks across Norfolk and beyond, because on top of the office-with-rates-paid prize is a heavyweight package of business support.

Sophie is joining Dragons' Barry Dennis, who is president of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, Robin Twigge, National Council Member of the Federation of Small Businesses, Paul Hill, business editor of Evening News sister paper the EDP and John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council.

Presentations to the Dragons take place at South Norfolk Council in Long Stratton on May 19. Applications should arrive with Oliver Hill, the Council's Economic Development Officer at neighbourhoods@s-norfolk.gov.uk by 5pm, on April 30.

The full list of terms and conditions, and the rules on eligibility to enter the competition can be found at www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/dragons