Pictured above: Gordon Borg, David Caruana, Marilù Vella, Jonathan J Borg, and Joseph Abdilla

JCI Malta Best Business Plan 2013 Competition launched

Last year, Marilù Vella participated in the JCI Malta Best Business Plan Competition. Her business plan won the day. A few months later, her ‘Pastizzi Gourmet’, producing a low fat and innovative variety of pastizzi, has developed into a promising startup company.

Marilù’s story is not unique for JCI. There were several other participants that went on to form successful companies from scratch with innovative ideas and mentoring from JCI with supprt from HSBC and KPMG.

“In a constant effort to improve year on year, at JCI Malta we tap the experiences of  successful participants. Recently, Ms Vella was invited to HSBC Malta Business Centre to share her business startup experience with us,” said JCI’s President Jonathan J Borg.

“I never used to see myself as a business type,” admitted Marilù. “Though my involvement with JCI Malta and the Best Business Competition, I gained insights into business planning which have served me very well. In fact, I am currently looking for a larger venue to operate from in order to meet with a steadily growing demand. I would recommend joining JCI Malta to anyone, especially younger people with fresh business ideas that they believe in, she said.”

The meeting also served to launch the 12^th edition of the JCI Malta BBP Competition, organised annually with support from HSBC Malta and KPMG Malta. In attendance were JCI Malta’s President Jonathan J Borg and Deputy President Gordon Borg met with KPMG partner David Caruana and HSBC’s Head of Business Banking Joseph Abdilla.

HSBC’s Joseph Abdilla said: “It is most rewarding to see JCI Malta members going on to achieve success in the business world. As an international financial institution, HSBC offer’s JCI’s members the support, expert guidance, and invaluable international connectivity they require to build upon their business objectives.

The BBP Competition seeks to foster the entrepreneurial spirit while providing young entrepreneurs with the knowledge and experience to turn ideas into concrete business objectives.

At KPMG, we believe that a solid and well-prepared business plan is one of the first steps that entrepreneurs should undertake to turn business idea into reality,” said David Caruana, KPMG Partner-Transactions and Restructuring. “We support JCI Malta’s in motivating its members and offering vital hands-on experience and mentoring to help them achieve their potential.”

To qualify for the 2013 Best Business Plan competition, individuals, aged between 18 and 40, or groups of up to 4 persons, must present an initial business idea for new start-up enterprises.  Businesses that legally established on or later than 1 June 2012 are also eligible to participate in such competition.

Applications and business plan proposals for the JCI Malta Best Business Plan Competition are to be submitted by 10 October 2013.

Applications are now open. Further information and the competition manual and info pack  may be obtained by visiting the JCI Malta website at www.jci.org.mt or contact directly Lavallette@jci.org.mt