Why county clicks for Dorset's web pioneers
Added: (Wed Apr 30 2008)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Dorset is rapidly becoming Britain's "click capital", thanks to the number of web-based firms now flourishing in the county. That's the view of Nicholas Steven who is currently heading a Business Link sponsored challenge for website entrepreneurs.
Nicholas describes as "astonishing" the number of Dorset firms marketing on-line and which have come forward to take part in the e-Den 2 competition.
They include websites selling products and services from soccer gear to high-tech office equipment, natural cosmetics and off-beat gifts.
The recent winner of the latest heat in the competition was a Poole motor finance entrepreneur, Shaun Armstrong of Credit Plus, who runs a successful comparison website for car buyers.
After working as an adviser with Business Link, Nicholas established Bournemouth-based BowShot Ltd one year ago to provide business growth groups for entrepreneurs in Dorset and Hampshire.
Its success led to his setting up last year's inaugural e-Den competition, with backing from Business Link, in which website owners pitch their development ideas to a panel of internet experts.
This year's winner will receive prizes in excess of £8000 when the contest reaches a climax in September. Meanwhile, last month's first heat drew an audience of more than 150 people when it was staged at Bournemouth University.
Many attending already had web-based businesses, said Nicholas, and came to benefit from the free advice given to candidates from the business-owning members of the panel.
"Since the contest began, I have been contacted by scores of Dorset firms who are generating thousands or millions of pounds via their websites," said Nicholas.
"There's clearly a very strong entrepreneurial spirit in the county, and it's encouraging to think that many jobs in the future will be sustained by a modern and developing technology - and one which, unlike our traditional tourism industry, doesn't rely on sunshine to blossom," he added.
The next heat of e-Den 2, again at Bournemouth University's Talbot Campus, takes place on 15 May - and more information is available at www.bowshot.org.
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More information from Nicholas Steven on 0845 1302636