Marcel Deer, a final year student, will join nine other finalists in September hoping to win a £500 cash prize in the Big Leap competition, run by Striding Out, a national entrepreneur company.

The Big Leap Competition is open to young people aged between 18-30 who are in the early stages of running their own business.

The competition focuses on helping young people complete their business plan and develop their entrepreneurial skills to succeed in the market place.

Since 2007, Marcel, 22, has been managing his own music promotion company and already has over 30 successful events under his belt, as well as completing his degree.

Marcel’s newest business venture is Shellshock New Media, which will train businesses how to use social media tools as efficient new marketing tools. Clients already waiting for Marcel's PR services include a fair trade company and an online dating website.

“There is a high demand for such training, especially with older businesses lost in the new media world,” he said.

“I have seen an opportunity and the advice that Striding Out have given me because of the Big Leap Competition has been invaluable. To be shortlisted from over 200 entrants is a fantastic achievement."

Although Marcel agrees that the skills he has learnt at university are invaluable, he has always had the ambition to work for himself: “The normal path is to finish your degree and get a job but I have never wanted to work for anybody other than myself.

“I really want to go my own way and be in charge of my own destiny,” he added.

Marcel believes that nobody should be afraid to try it on their own. “More graduates should have the confidence to consider setting up on their
own. It is a real alternative to joining the
masses in the job market,” he said.

Heather Wilkinson of Striding Out, who
manage the Big Leap Competition,
said: “Thousands of young people will
leave education in June and with few jobs
out there they are right to fear the worst.

“It’s going to be difficult to secure their
perfect job and maybe even any job at all.

“Starting your own business can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do and is the perfect antidote to the shortage of jobs. It is a real opportunity in a time where there are few in employed work and it is great to see our finalists grabbing that opportunity with both hands.”

The winner of the Big Leap competition will be announced in October 2009 – watch this space!

Shorthand Sue

Website team