A YOUNG entrepreneur from Drewsteignton is celebrating success in the Universities South West Enterprise Awards.

Lawrence Millet (pictured right) and his business partner Charlie Beldam won first place in the staff and alumni section at an award ceremony in Plymouth on

November 16.

Lawrence attended Chagford Primary and Exeter School, before taking a degree in agriculture and land management at the Royal Agricultural College, where he met Charlie.

For a piece of course work, the two devised a business plan to produce and sell Cotswold Gold extra virgin rapeseed oil, a naturally healthy cooking oil made from British oilseed rape.

Most young people hate coursework, but as Lawrence said, this particular piece came in rather useful: 'The business plan was literally a piece of course work that came to life. We finished university and were not quite sure what to do, so we looked back at the coursework, and when the numbers all added up we thought we might as well give it a go.'

Lawrence says the prize money of £5,000 will allow them to buy a labeling machine, continuing investment in their business. 'It's going to be a very welcome piece of kit — labelling 15,000 bottles by hand has been a trial to say the least!'

The oil is available locally and online.