Young companies with innovative ideas and designers with products that need bringing to market are being asked to enter a competition organised by Autumn Fair and home solutions chain Lakeland.
The show and the retailer have joined forces with design innovation company Seymourpowell for The Next Big Thing Design Award, due to be presented at the Autumn Fair in September.

The 12 finalists who win over Lakeland's selection team will be offered free stands at this year's Autumn Fair and their products will be featured in the next Lakeland range. The overall winner will also receive a day of free design mentoring at Seymourpowell.

Anyone can enter for The Next Big Thing Design Award and entries must be submitted by July 31. For more information email greatideas@lakeland.co.uk.

Autumn Fair event director Rob Lozowski said: "Uncovering the design entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow and subsequently featuring their work at the event in September will be very exciting and should create a real buzz on the exhibition floor."

Autumn Fair International runs this year from September 2 to 5 at Birmingham's NEC.