The leading builder, Willmott Dixon is providing support and advice to help young entrepreneurs win a share of £1.6 million on offer from Spark to develop ideas for preventing and combating homelessness.

This is the first year that businesses competing for the money will receive support from the private sector to assist their investment pitch and in setting up the business if successful.

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Willmott Dixon's Pre-Construction Director in the Midlands, Nick Gibb, said: "Our involvement is about engaging with young business people and providing them with a chance to get exposure to some very important commercial disciplines.

"Spark interested us because the benefit is three-fold: we are supporting young people at the start of their careers, we help develop ideas to combat homelessness, and it is great experience for us to be involved."

Gibb said the 20 people from Willmott Dixon would be split into two teams to introduce an element of internal competition as they help two different social enterprises prepare to pitch for the money.

The finalists will be announced on Wednesday 1st September 2010.

(CD/BMcC)