We’ve still got a couple of weeks to go until the new football season starts, but before that, another important date is approaching fast: this Friday is your final chance to enter the Umbro Industries Summer instalment. What that means is that, if you’ve got a great idea for a project here in Greater Manchester, but you don’t have the funds to get it started, you’ve only got until the end of this week to be in with a chance of winning a £10,000 helping hand.

So what should you do if you want to enter? It’s pretty simple – just head over to the Umbro Industries website, and submit your ideas for consideration. The best ideas will then be chosen to present to our team of panelists at a special final event, with the winners then being awarded a share of the £10,000 kitty. It’s a simple, effective way for creative minds in Greater Manchester to get their hands on vital funding.

For this latest instalment, we’re very excited to welcome along two special guest panelists to help judge the entrants. Hip hop artist and Contact Theatre’s Artistic Director Baba Israel and Rachel Gasper, the new Executive Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, have kindly agreed to join the panel for the Summer Umbro Industries. They’ll join the likes of expert photographer Kevin Cummins, head of Deconstruction Records Mike Pickering and Manchester City‘s marketing expert David Pullan in picking out the finest entrants to receive the funding this time around.

So far, Umbro Industries has funded a host of interesting ideas, including a massively successful stage play, a series of limited editon record releases, the reopening of a street art gallery and a reggae-themed tea party. If you want to see your idea joining the ranks of Umbro Industries winners, head over to the website now and get your idea uploaded before Friday’s deadline!