A NEW programme is aiming to help Worcestershire companies become the next Google or Easyjet, by offering a £250,000 management consultancy treasure chest.

Galvanising Growth, the brainchild of business leaders John Ling, Ruth Johnstone and James Leavesley, has teamed up with Mustard.uk.com to develop a competition that identifies and supports the next generation of high growth firms in the region.

Up to 100 businesses are expected to take part, with all participants receiving specialist feedback and, for the final five that make the shortlist, an individual £20,000+ support package will be available to help each company achieve high returns and expansion over three to five years.

"There are lots of companies out there that are at a stage where they want to accelerate growth, but perhaps do not hold the necessary knowledge or management structure to turn a good business into a high growth enterprise capable of making it into the Times Fast Track 100 for example," explained James Leavesley, Director of NXO Strategic Marketing.

"With this in mind, we undertook research and, after talking to a cross section of public and private sector organisations, came up with the Galvanising Growth concept."

The competition began this month and interested businesses are being urged to register via www.galvanisinggrowth.co.uk.

After filling in a short questionnaire, they will then be asked to submit their proposition, which will be reviewed by a specialist business panel.

At this stage, the number of entrants will be reduced to 10, with all candidates receiving specialist feedback on how their company came across, what they could do in the future and full access to a seminar programme.