A successful scheme to encourage entrepreneurs to set up new businesses is to get a second run.

Enterprise Island II will pit budding businessmen against each other to sell their idea to a panel of judges.

In the first Bradford Enterprise Island, last year, 14 winners were chosen and all received expert tuition in how to turn their idea into a viable business.

So impressive was last year's competition that it was a key aspect in a bid project which secured £21.4 million for entrepreneurship in Bradford from the Government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI).

The project, which travels between cities to find hidden entrepreneurs, has been compared to the BBC's The Apprentice, starring millionaire Alan Sugar.

Now Bradford Council intends to bring the project back to the city, to find another batch of potential tycoons.

Iain Scott, author of the popular Tortoise Walking for Beginners book and founder of the Enterprise Island scheme, said he was delighted to be returning to Bradford.

He said: "Everyone is an entrepreneur they just don't know it yet. More than 70 people came forward in the first challenge who had never considered starting a business before, so why not come along, pitch up to the judges and see what happens?"

Among last year's 14 winners were Rowland Egege and Bobby Singh, who now run Proactive Sports. Their company aims to make up for the fact that primary schools do not have full-time PE teachers by going in once a week to provide coaching.

Set up last September, the firm already has dozens of local schools on its books.

Mr Egege said: "I didn't really know what to expect when I took part in the Enterprise Island challenge but I thought I would give it a go I haven't looked back since.

"Some people think starting a business is all about finance and planning but you need to have confidence in yourself and that's what Enterprise Island gave me."

Patrick Wiggins, Bradford Council's director of regeneration and housing, said: "I'm sure there are a lot more people who have good ideas and would make a real success of things in the business world and this is their chance to see if they have what it takes we had 14 success stories last time and this shows that it can be done."

Audition dates are: June 14 at St Peter's House, Bradford; June 15 at the Design Exchange, Little Germany; June 16 at Acorn House, Keighley; June 17 at Victoria Hall, Saltaire. All begin at 10.30am. Call the freephone line on 0800 953 9503 from May 8.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk