A budding 15-year-old entrepreneur has been given the chance to emulate Sir Alan Sugar in a competition to develop his business.

Alex Gatton is one of only three young business brains chosen from hundreds of applicants who have been given the opportunity to delve into the address books of top business people to further their firms.

The Hurstpierpoint College student runs his company with the help of his 12-year-old sister Amy. Together they produced a CD of bedtime songs based around Delahaye the Dog, a character their Dad used in bedtime stories when they were younger.

The CD has received rave reviews and the pair have had a host of TV and radio appearances including a stint on ITV's answer to Dragon's Den called Tycoon out later this year.

The siblings now want to take their business to the next level.

Alex, of The Driftway, Upper Beeding, said: "My sister's headteacher at her previous school asked for ideas to help raise funds. It was then we decided to turn these bedtime stories our dad used to tell us into a mini-musical.

"We wrote some music and Amy sang on the CD and we raised loads of money. After that we decided to start our own business selling them."

The chance to network in the business world has been organised by the Make Your Mark campaign, which aims to connect young people to make their ideas happen.

Kevin Steele, chief executive of the Make Your Mark campaign, said: "Turning your ideas into reality is dependent on collaboration bringing together the right mix of people, skills and experience to make it happen. Many good ideas are going to waste - because young people don't always have access to the right contacts to turn their ideas into reality.

"Our connectors really are the alchemists who can support and mentor young business people and help them realise their ideas. By setting up this initiative we hope to bring the power of networks to life and encourage many more people to join one, or indeed to set up their own."

Alex and Amy's mum Julie Gatton said: "He has been trying to get this idea off the ground and it isn't easy, especially for a 15-year-old. He is determined and I'm sure he will be brilliant."

Always keen to exploit an opportunity Alex had one last thing to tell The Argus: "If anybody thinks they can help us develop our business then please get in contact and people can visit our website at delahayethedog.co.uk to order a CD."

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