I've just come back from judging a new business competition and for a change it was quite a rewarding experience.

The competition, run by the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce and sponsored by the Gazette among others, is designed to promote new businesses and encourage others.

There were six worthy finalists who had to stand up before 11 of us and, in three minutes, give us a presentation on why they should win.

It was a kind of Dragons' Den without any dragons. No one was bullied or ridiculed and it was all very supportive.

The best thing about it, apart from marvelling at the applicants' bravery in starting their own business, was that the judging system was based on marks out if six without any debate.

I get asked to judge competitions quite regularly and often end up arguing with someone. There is always one judge on a panel who wants to railroad everyone else into their way of thinking.

While some people are quite happy to be led like sheep I'm afraid I'll always argue the toss in favour of my own choice.

I remember once, when judging a competition for Nationwide, almost coming to blows with a social worker who wanted to give the top prize to a colective of lentil-weaving hippies from out of our area when there was at least two perfectly deserving causes on our doorstep.

But tonight was very civilised and the right winner was chosen. The prize will be presented next Thursday by someone who knows a thing or two about starting businesses - Eddie Shah.

Bizarrely the best business opportunity I heard about tonight is one being run by the Queen.

Mike Williams the chief executive of the Weesex Association, recently went to Buckingham Palace to collect an MBE.

It was a great day out for him and his family and obviously they wanted a memento of it.

Luckily the palace films everything and offers the honoured a DVD of their investiture - at £140 a time.

Considering there were 102 people receiving honours (and who wouldn't want a record of such a day?) that's £140,000 of revenue for the cost of a cameraman and a few blank DVDs.

Then consider that there about 20 such ceremonies a year and you are talking about a tidy little business.

Add to that the official photographers outside Buck House (or Big Bucks House as it should be called) charging £20 a picture and you can see why Royals refer to the family as The Firm.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Prince Philips flogging souvenir tea towels in the car park.

Say what you like about the Royals, they know how to turn a profit.

I was once invited to dinner with Prince Charles at Highgrove (along with a gaggle of other editors). We were shown into the reception area and duly fed and watered.

When it was time to leave we were shown out - through the Highgrove gift shop.