A DEVON chef has been inspired by his passion for skiing to establish a business offering Westcountry hospitality in the Alps with his family's backing.

Jamie Forrest, 25, quit university to become a career "chalet boy" catering for guests in a major travel firm's ski lodge and taking to the slopes in his spare time.

He is now looking ahead to his second season as owner-manager of micro-holiday firm Ski Bliss and proprietor of a lodge at St Gervais in Mont Blanc's shadow, giving a warm Devon welcome to winter guests.

Two years ago, Mr Forrest, from Sandford, began formulating a business plan to establish his own guest accommodation at the resort, to provide a standard of service he felt some holiday firms lacked.

"After working for big companies where they tell you what to do, I felt I could do it better," he said. "If a guest rang to say a lightbulb had blown, it was policy to call the resort manager and fill in a form, when all the guest needed was you to quickly change the lightbulb."

With no business loan available, Mr Forrest's parents Peter and Joanna lent him the deposit for a property, which the business – Ski Bliss – is repaying along with the French mortgage.

"They've been very supportive," he said.

With hands-on training as an assistant chef in ski resorts and during summer seasons catering in French chateaux, Mr Forrest caters for his guests according to their whim.

Fresh-baked cakes and scones are a teatime staple and he cooks four-course evening meals from scratch, according to what his guests fancy seeing on the menu: "It's not a generic holiday," he said. "I want it to be as flexible as possible for guests."

He has invested in a mini-bus to collect guests from airports and high-speed rail links and, once they have arrived, helps them to organise ski passes, even taking more experienced skiers out on guided ski runs, himself.

The enterprise is beginning to profitably achieve the ski-fanatic's ideal work-life balance.

"The ski industry is a huge marketplace, with a few multi million pound companies owning the lions share," he said. "But there is change in the air: People are starting to see that they can get more for their money by going with a smaller independent company such as mine."

His first season last year met with a rave review from a national travel writer. This year, in addition to his own chalet which sleeps four guests, he is renting a second, that will accommodate up to eight tourists.

His first guests will arrive with the December snow and he is considering extending the holiday season beyond the thaw.