Partner Article

Major win for local business student

A North East graduate has scooped £100,000 after winning a national competition for new entrepreneurs.

Danny Waine, 24, from Middlesbrough, was studying at the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University when he spotted a gap in the wedding market during a year long work placement. His new business, Perfect Weddings and Honeymoons Ltd, will offer a full overseas wedding planning service.

Danny said: “This is a totally new concept, putting the wedding at the heart of all the arrangements. We will offer a range of services including the option for fully inclusive or ‘wedding only’ arrangements, the provision of a personal wedding coordinator to accompany the couple from the UK to their location, a full pre-departure wedding planning service and we will also offer renewal of vows and civil partnership packages.”

The idea has won Danny and business partner Helen Doyle first prize in the TTG Big Idea competition, run by UK Travel Trade Gazette newspaper. Four travel industry experts each put up £25,000 of their own money for the competition prize, as well as offering their professional experience and guidance.

For a fledgling business, this type of backing is very significant, as Danny explained: “This is a real dream come true for us. The business will benefit enormously from the £100,000 financial investment, but the other part of the prize, which is expert support from some of the leading lights in the travel and tourism industry, is invaluable.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .