Residents hoping to become successful entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas inside High Wycombe’s “Dragons' Den” next week.

About 15 people will get advice and encouragement from the four “dragons” and try to convince them that their proposals deserve extra funding and support.

The all-day 'Dragons' Den’ style event, at Buckinghamshire New University on Wednesday (July 15), is the culmination of ‘Strive’, a programme of free training for would-be entrepreneurs, that has been running in High Wycombe this year.

The scheme has been funded jointly by a partnership of Bucks County Council, Thames Valley Housing, Home Group housing and Marsh and Micklefield Big Local, a lottery-funded community trust. Each organisation is contributing about £3,000 towards the overall project.

The panel of 'dragons' on Wednesday will include: Philippa Batting, MD of Buckinghamshire Business First; David Clayton-Smith, Chair of Thames Valley Housing; Susan Coulson, a Director of Home Group; and Ashwinder Sura of Marsh and Micklefield Big Local.