Hotelier Surinder Arora has pledged to support a Dragons' Den-style competition for budding young entrepreneurs, offering £1,000 to the winner every year for the next 10 years.
The Arora Awards for Enterprise and Arora's Den has been set up in conjunction with the Royal Holloway University of London.
Students will pitch their business ideas in Arora's Den to a panel, which will include Arora, founder and chief executive of Arora Hotels. There will be a prize of £1,000 for the best proposal, with further financial sponsorship split between the rest of the contestants.
The award will be judged on the drive and personality of the student entrepreneurs, as well as the business idea itself.
Arora said: I'm delighted to strengthen my relationship with the student entreprenurs of Royal Holloway, a university for which I have had a great respect during our 20 years' association."
Principal of Royal Holloway, Professor Paul Layzell, said: This establishment of the Arora awards builds another bridge between Royal Holloway and successful business, working together to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs."
Arora Hotels currently has six hotels in Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, with plans in development for properties at The Kia Oval, in partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club, and opposite the racecourse at Ascot, Berkshire.
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By Janet Harmer
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