THE hunt is on for budding business tycoons, with a chance to win prizes worth up to £10,000.

Winners of the Scale-up Stars of the Future competition will be able to choose a prize to suit their needs.

Options include private, shared, lab, virtual or workspace worth £5,000, professional business coaching and an opportunity to pitch to investors.

The contest aims to identify high-growth firms and any small or medium-sized enterprise registered in the county is eligible to apply.

The scheme is being run by Oxford Innovation, which operates seven innovation centres around the county, to mark its 30th anniversary.

Its centres include Cherwell Innovation Centre in Upper Heyford, Bicester Innovation Centre, Witney Business and Innovation Centre, Culham Innovation Centre, Harwell Innovation Centre and the Oxford Centre for Innovation, New Road, Oxford

Tom Hanney, regional manager at Oxford Innovation, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for home-grown talent to showcase their entrepreneurial flair.

“I’d strongly urge people who are looking to scale-up their business to enter.”

Oxford Innovation has helped 10,000 start-ups since Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood set it up in 1987.

The husband and wife team founded Oxford Instruments and The Oxford Trust charity.

Among those it has supported is Stockopedia, an online service for DIY stock market investors.

To enter, firms must submit a video. Deadline for entry is September 1, see oxin.co.uk