Mary Macleod, Member of Parliament for Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow welcomed RJ Matthias, from Brentford, to Westminster, to congratulate him on being named as a regional finalist in The Barclays Business “Take One Small Step” competition.

The competition aims to reward the ten freshest business ideas up and down the country with a prize of £50,000 cash to develop their business. The company started by RJ and his business partner Michael Matthias, Woo! Design and Marketing, is one of three shortlisted in South London from more than 3,600 entrants across the country. Woo! Design and Marketing will now need the public to vote for the company, to stand a chance of winning the funding.

The company’s main project will be to design and install specially created facades for empty retail units that will give the appearance of continued occupation. This will begin with areas surrounding the Olympic Village and expand to cover all of London in time for 2012.

Michael said: “The main concept is to combine our skills in design and marketing to provide commercial property owners with a solution to empty units, bearing in mind the economic difficulties the retail industry currently faces. We hope to be at the forefront of this regeneration programme – ensuring commercial property owners can generate revenue from their empty units, local communities can maintain a healthy appearance, while directly engaging local kids in each region’s development.”

Mary Macleod MP said: “I was delighted to welcome RJ to Westminster, to congratulate him for being shortlisted for this prestigious award. I am very keen to support local small businesses, and their work is an example of entrepreneurship at its best. Brentford is famous for its Golden Mile of businesses, and we are always eager to expand the ranks of local innovators and entrepreneurs. We need to support small businesses to help develop the economy in the months ahead.”

Winners will be announced on 15th July.