Five entrepreneurs are being offered the chance of an all expenses paid trip to London in a competition sponsored by British Airways in conjunction with the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSBDC) and the Economic Empowerment Zone (EEZ).

To enter the Face-2-Face contest will need to submit an essay of 250 to 500 words, explaining how a face-to-face meeting in the UK would help their business.

The winners will fly to London in mid-November and have the chance to take part in Global Entrepreneurship Week UK, which is taking place from November 15 to 21. Accommodation will also be provided.

The competition is open to Bermudians and Permanent Resident Certificate holders.

Essays will be judged on four criteria — the company's specific objectives; a clear vision of how the trip will benefit Bermuda and the business; what specific business objective can be gained by face-to-face meetings rather than remote communication; and the entrepreneur's articulation and style.

Entrants are also asked to specify who or what organisation they would like to meet in the UK.

BSBDC general manager Michelle Khaldoun said she was pleased to support the competition and added: "This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to take some time out from working in their business to work on their business.

"Sometimes they are so busy working that they don't have a chance to meet their vendors or business peers, and make strategic alliances."

BA has held similar Face-2-Face competitions in other locations, where they have generated a good response. It is part of the airline's effort to promote business travel, which has fallen during the economic downturn, as companies look to cut costs.

BA regional manager for Bermuda, Marianne Wilcox, said Harvard Business Review had been commissioned to survey business leaders on the importance of meeting business associates in person. Face-to-face meetings are key to developing long-term relationships, said 87 percent, while 85 percent said they were key to "sealing the deal".

More than half said cutting down on travel was hurting their business.

Ms Wilcox said business travel on the Bermuda-London route had held up well despite the downturn. "We have seen slightly less travel," Ms Wilcox said. "But overall we have done very well with our business travel and international business is a big part of that."

Finalists in the competition will be asked to meet briefly with the independent judges who will select the winners by October 15.

For more information go the BSBDC website at www.bsbdc.bm. E-mail submissions should be sent to face2facebermuda@g.mail.com. Alternatively, entries can be dropped off at the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation office, at Sofia House, 48 Church Street, Hamilton HM12. Applicants must be over the age of 21 years at the time of entry and have a valid passport for travel. The deadline for entries is September 30.