Clydebank-born Bannatyne, star of television show Dragons' Den, has recorded a series of 30-second advertisements to publicise the Business Gateway competition, launched by Scottish Enterprise and geared towards supporting more Scots to start-up their own firms.

The adverts will be aired over the next two weeks on commercial radio stations across Scotland.

Bannatyne, who owns a health and leisure empire worth more than £100 million, said: "This competition is a great way to encouraging more people to tune into the thought that they may well have a viable business idea bubbling away.

"I firmly believe that everyone has the potential to build a business and as I've highlighted in my book, I had very humble beginnings, but have worked incredibly hard to make the business what it is today.

"What's really important is how you research your idea and how you plan and prepare to take it forward. Business Gateway clearly already provides a valuable service to start-ups in terms of support and advice and this competition also offers a valuable cash incentive, which can be crucial in developing any business."

Groups and individuals from any of the Scottish Enterprise Local Enterprise Company areas can put an idea forward to be considered for a £1000 local prize, with the best national entry winning a total of £5,000 to help them get their business idea off the ground.

Linda Hanna of Scottish Enterprise, said: "We're delighted that Duncan is backing the competition and we hope that people will follow his example as one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs, and have the confidence to develop a winning business idea.

"Small businesses are really important to the economy, and not just at local level. The more people we can encourage to bring their ideas to the Business Gateway, the better chance we have of supporting them in growing their ventures and realising their ambitions."

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