Now in its third year, the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur competition celebrates the achievements of small businesses that have demonstrated exceptional dedication and have found new directions to succeed in business with the help of technology.

A panel of judges, headed up by successful business tycoon Peter Jones, will select 20 inspirational entrepreneurs who will be photographed by renowned photographer Rankin to capture the essence of their business. From the 20 winners, the judges will also be looking for the Best Female, Best Male, Young Entrepreneur of the year and the most original business concept. In addition, the top business will be awarded the title of Outstanding Entrepreneur and the prize of a £20,000 business grant from BT.

For details on how to enter the 2008 competition, plus more information on the competition, judges and tips on starting a business visit our special BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur page

Here is a selection of winners from 2007

Music Concierge, London

Music Concierge is a ground-breaking service that has been set up using genuine music expertise to offer bespoke music programming to luxury brands, boutique hotels, restaurants, shops and other design-led spaces that want to sound truly unique. Creative Director and founder Rob Wood is passionate about bringing the best music from around the world and incorporating it into the creative vision of exceptional brands and spaces.