Start-up businesses in the public relations industry are being invited to pitch for £100,000 investment from two high flying PR entrepreneurs.

The ‘Flying Start-Up’ competition was created by Nick Band and Mark Borkowski. It gives fledgling businesses owners to devise a business plan before pitching to a panel of five judges.

Nick Band is the founder of Band & Brown Group, while Borkowski created Borkowski.do, both luminaries in the UK PR sector.

They are looking to award to the cash to the business with the most promising business plan. The cash will pay for a stake in the business of between 49 and 70 per cent, depending on the strength of the plan.

Mr Band said: "There is a lot of entrepreneurial talent out there that has been imprisoned by the twin constraints of cash and confidence. We are hoping to unlock that potential by making it easier to take the plunge."

Written entries for the competition are to be submitted by 1 June. Pitches will take place in July.