The College of Public Speaking is launching a competition to find the UK’s top corporate orators, to encourage communication excellence in the business world.

Speakers will be expected to demonstrate skills in terms of gestures, speech construction, speaking with conviction, use of voice, vocabulary and word pictures, humour and audience rapport. The college also stipulates that speeches must not be read.

The theme for the inaugural 2008 competition is ‘business and carbon footprints’ and the initial heats of the contest will take place in mid January in Cheapside.

Contest organiser, Vince Stevenson, said: “This is a marvellous opportunity for individuals to develop themselves in a friendly, supportive and pressurised environment. Speech contests emulate the rigours of a tough business world where millions of pounds can be won and lost on one strong presentation.”

Further details are available at www.collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk