Successful Businessman Offers Tips to Students

A businessman from Portsmouth who is managing director of the UK’s fastest growing telemarketing and direct marketing agency at the age of just 23 has passed on tips to students at a special awards ceremony.

UK (PRWEB) February 22, 2006 -- Paul Thomas of Market Makers was a guest speaker at the University of Portsmouth’s Enterprise Challenge Award on February 14.

Market Makers was started in October 2003 in Paul’s spare bedroom and has an estimated turnover of £2m for 2006. Students from the University of Portsmouth will be hoping to mirror Paul’s success with their own business ideas as they compete for the Challenge Award.

The business competition has three categories: Business, Innovation and Design and winners will receive cash prizes to develop their ideas.

Competition for the Enterprise Challenge Award is stronger than ever before with entries having risen by 60 per cent. Students are given free business advice and the competition is open to all University of Portsmouth students and is run by the University’s Portsmouth Centre for Enterprise.

One of last year’s award winners, Fatima Ba-Alawi, who invented a hospital gown which is more dignified and comfortable for patients to wear, will also be addressing the audience made up of students and sponsors.

The former student used the £2,000 prize money to fund a patent application and register her company, DCS Designs Ltd, and is currently in talks with NHS procurement groups.

The annual ceremony in Portland Building has attracted many high profile sponsors both from the private and public sectors including BAE Systems and Hampshire County Council.

Tony Greatbatch, Manager of the Centre for Enterprise, said: ‘The Challenge has grown from strength to strength. Generous sponsorship has made it possible for us to support budding entrepreneurs fully in turning their business ideas into reality.’

Market Makers are the first of a new generation of telemarketing and telesales agencies delivering targeted lead generation, appointment setting and sales for growing businesses in the UK. Click here for more information http://www.marketmakers.co.uk

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