SIR Alan Sugar or Sir Richard Branson. Who is your business icon?

In a contest sponsored by BT, small businesses across the region are being encouraged to nominate their icons.

BT says the South East has a wealth of famous entrepreneurial talent and wants to know who are the most inspiring.

Voters can choose Sir Alan, who hails from London, founded the Amstrad empire and is now famous for his "you're fired" line from The Apprentice television series on the BBC.

Or Sir Richard, the Virgin multi-millionaire, who now wants to take over the ailing bank Northern Rock.

Other nominees from the region are Peter Jones, from Berkshire, a Dragon's Den judge; Sir Philip Green, the London-born multi-millionaire who owns the Arcadia group, which includes Top Shop and British Home Stores, and Simon Jordan, a mobile phone entrepreneur.

Terry Hughes, BT Local Business Regional Director for the South East, said: "The South East is full of entrepreneurial talent, some of whom have been well-known faces. We want to know who small business owners feel has been an inspiration and has helped put the South East on the business map."

To vote for the most inspirational South East business icon visit www.bt.com/icon

The closing date is November 2. Entrants are being offered BT Business services including Total Broadband and Tradespace as prizes.