Gavin is a big game player at European parliament

A YOUNG Plymouth entrepreneur has presented his business plan to the vice president of the European Parliament at an international conference in Italy.

Gavin Seymour, aged 24, is the brains behind the Football Coded Grading System, a soccer coaching assessment business due to launch in the city later this month.

Mr Seymour, from Southway, was the only delegate chosen to promote his business idea at the four-day international youth business summit at Caserta, near Naples.

In the audience was Gina Pittella, vice president of the European Parliament, whom Mr Seymour got to meet afterwards, academics, MEPs, and Italian business leaders.

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Mr Seymour's football assessment system measures players' technique.

He has already signed a contract with the Goals football centres chain to pilot the programme.

Mr Seymour was one of a delegation of three young city entrepreneurs who last week attended the summit, aimed at promoting ideas to increase entrepreneurship across the European Union.

Also on the trip was Cezary Ostrowsky and Magda Maszczynska, two young Poles who now live in Plymouth.

Mr Seymour said: "It was amazing. I got to represent my city, promote my new business idea, network with other like-minded young entrepreneurs from across the EU, and especially get the chance to speak at the prestigious showcase and meet the vice president of the European Parliament."

Also in the UK delegation were Benedicte Ouamba-Diaboua, a French man now living in London, and Sweeney Stanley, from Wales.

The young business brains were chosen following the UK-wide Ideas on the Move competition, organised by educational services provider Tellus Group, which has a Plymouth office at Mutley Plain.

The delegation was accompanied by Tellus Group's chief executive Neil Pick and project manager Roberto Greco.

Also on the trip was Kevin Kelway, marketing manager at start-up business support organisation Outset Plymouth.

He was invited to deliver workshops on the power of political lobbying, self-employment, and shaping opinions in the European market.

Mr Kelway was also a main guest speaker at the closing conference, delivering a presentation on the necessity of PR and marketing plans to promote businesses in the global marketplace.

Mr Kelway said: "The workshops delivered two sets of papers and ideas that will be submitted to the European Parliament in Brussels in March, calling on MEPs to help support new policies to encourage more young entrepreneurs across the EU.

"Some great ideas came out of the conference and included a new Euro fund to support 18- to 35-year-olds with cash incentives to encourage self-employment and growth opportunities, low or no taxes for young entrepreneurs setting up in business for the first two years, designated mentoring from business leaders, cutting red tape, early education policies to promote entrepreneurship from the age of 11, and more."

The conference was at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Belvedere di San Leucio, in Caserta.

There were delegations from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and the UK.

The Tellus Group led the UK campaign to promote Ideas On The Move, which is funded through the Europe for Citizens framework and promotes entrepreneurship amongst young Europeans by collecting innovative ideas from budding business leaders.

A shortlist of candidates will now be selected and voted for on-line, with the most innovative idea presented with a 3,000-euro prize, at a ceremony at the European Parliament in March.