The inventor of 'sock creatures' is among the finalists competing in Britain's biggest pitching competition.
John Lakey, founder and director of Candlelight Creations, beat strong competition from rival pitchers to win his place in the Pitch 2010 national final, taking place in London on 16 November.
The overall winner of The Pitch 2010, organised by SME advice website BusinessZone.co.uk in association with Yell and sponsored by Sage, will walk away with a prize package worth £50,000, including one-on-one mentoring from former Dragons' Den judge Doug Richard.
Lakey, whose make-it-yourself kits for children include 'the socktopus' and 'the sockosaurus', says: “I’m so excited to be in the final,” he said. “I must be the happiest man in Cornwall right now.”
He will join five other entrepreneurs who won their regional heats at the grand final. They will be judged by a panel of business experts in front of a live audience.
John Lakey, the founder of Candlelight Creations, is a great advert for business and creativity in the South West
Dan Martin, BusinessZone.co.uk editor
Among the judges will be investment guru and Dragons’ Den Online judge Julie Meyer, winner of the first series of TV’s The Apprentice Tim Campbell and Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, founder of The Black Farmer, which produces a range of bacon and sausages.
Dan Martin, editor of BusinessZone.co.uk, says: “I’m very happy for John. I know he’s put a lot of effort in to publicising his involvement in the competition and he deserves his success. He’s a great advert for business and creativity in the South West.
”The Pitch 2010 grand final is part of a one-day conference featuring top class business advice from leading experts. The event has been granted ‘High Impact’ status by the organisers of Global Entrepreneurship Week."
