BT Business is searching for the West Midlands’ most inspiring entrepreneurs in the Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008 competition.

In its third year, the competition is set to celebrate the nation’s finest business owners using technology.

The 20 winners will have the essence of their business in a photograph by famous portrait and fashion photographer Rankin. His portraits of the winners will be showcased at a high profile exhibition in January 2009 at gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank.

A panel of judges, headed by Dragons Den business tycoon Peter Jones, will award one of the 20 businesses the title Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year and a £20,000 BT business grant.

The judges will also be awarding Best Male, Best Female, and Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year as well as Most Outstanding Business Concept.

Paul Evans, BT local business regional director West Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Peter Jones and Rankin on the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008. Peter Jones embodies the entrepreneurial spirit which characterises many small businesses and Rankin will be able to capture this passion in striking photographic portraits”.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy. They account for 99.9 per cent of businesses and 40 per cent of UK turnover. We want to help and encourage them, applaud their determination and celebrate their spirit.”

Joining the Dragons Den star are John Dunsmure, managing director of British Chamber of Commerce Enterprises, Gavin Dollin from Business Link, Mick Hegarty, marketing director BT Business, Tricia Phillips MirrorWorks editor for the Daily Mirror and Adam Shaw from BBC2’s Working Lunch.

Peter Jones said: “It takes a lot of guts to take the plunge and start your own business – and I want to see that passion and dedication in the entries. However I am also looking for a business doing something different and unique with a long term plan.”

Rankin said: “I can’t wait to get the winning companies in the studio, and capture the raw passion. My photos will be a lasting representation of the essence of the business and the success they have achieved.”

Over the last two years the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur competition has already awarded a diverse range of businesses from across the UK including a landscape gardener, a retro sweet shop and an all-female construction company.

Previous winner Kerrie Keeling, founder of A Woman’s Touch comments, “The exposure my company has received as a result of the award has been phenomenal and has snowballed into some really major opportunities.”

The closing date for the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur competition is August 31, 2008.

For full details about how to enter and to see the past winners, visit www.bt.com/entrepreneur.