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5 May 2006 10:28:07
Getting up in the dead of night to feed his baby daughter has given Alan McElligott the i Factor.
The 31-year-old builder dreamed-up the idea of an automatic ‘bottle buddy’ and now he is on track to become a successful entrepreneur.
He won the top prize of £1,000 for ‘Best Overall Business Idea’ with his innovative baby food dispenser, at the University of Luton’s recent Business Concept Competition, the i Factor Awards, part-sponsored by Godfrey Laws Accountants Ltd.
The i Factor attracted 15 budding entrepreneurs’ ideas ranging from a new natural skin care product and an executive chauffeuring service/training school, to a children’s soft play centre and a talent production agency for urban music.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon, presented the winners with their prizes at an awards evening celebrating the University’s enterprise activities.
Addressing the winners, he said: “The University continues to drive entrepreneurship in the region and tonight shows that quality ideas are being nurtured and developed through one of several programmes running here.
“I am very impressed with the high standard of submissions, the research that has gone into developing these ideas and the enthusiasm of each of the entrants.”
Winner Alan, was delighted with the lectures. “It’s been great to have such good support from the University,” he said. “The great thing is, the help and advice is free and that’s exactly what you need when you are just starting out.”
The winners all attended a series of lectures at the University, called Basics of Building a Business (B3), which are run throughout the academic year and are open to all students, researchers and academics within the University of Luton plus members of the public.
The lectures are complemented by the i Factor Awards for the most promising and well-presented idea.
Alan was able to use the skills of a student helper on the B3 course to do some market research, and he was also able to gain top entrepreneurial expertise from the B3 speakers outside the course.
The prize for the Best e-Commerce Related Idea went to Sudesh Sangray and Prajay Kamat, both University of Luton employees, for their online dating service, winning £250 sponsored by e-Financial Management Ltd.
Due to the very close result, an additional award of £100 was presented to Jenny Stake for her organic and ‘free from’ café idea – The Souper.
The free B3 lectures will begin again this autumn, delivered by successful entrepreneurs who have gone through the process of starting up and running their own business. Figures show the lectures have helped businesses and attracted many entrepreneurs from a range of backgrounds and ages.
Winner Alan is now hoping to pay back the support and encouragement he received. If his new business is successful, he’s pledged to support the next series of B3 lectures, to help other budding entrepreneurs.
“Those involved were very generous with their time and knowledge and I hope that if things go well for me, I can help other entrepreneurs to get their idea up and running,” he added.
To find out more about B3 lectures, contact Karen Wood on 01582 743169 or e-mail: karen.wood@luton.ac.uk.
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Latest news» 2006» May» Alan has the I factor with his winning business idea
