Released: 16.06.15
A student from Devon recently won an award for starting his own business and was crowned ‘Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year 2015’ at the University of St Mark & St John.
Harry Solomon, 21, from Ivybridge, set up his company 'Wombat Cricket', after his love for the sport was galvanised with business know-how and inspiration from his course at the University of St Mark & St John.
Through studying BA Hons Sports Development and Coaching, Harry said: “I really enjoyed learning about coaching and cricket and, when I was researching how cricket bats are made, I met my business partner.
“We’re the only company in Devon that makes bats completely from scratch so I’m trying to keep the tradition going. They are all hand-made and there are no machines, apart from one which is used to press the cleft, which gets the spring out of the bat.
“As soon as I finish at University I will be working full-time in the business. The plan is to take what I’ve learned from my degree to set-up a coaching side to the business. I’ll be going into schools as a coach and will continue to grow the equipment side of things."
Wombat Cricket is run from a business retail unit in Tavistock where they make custom handmade cricket bats, as well as selling hats, gloves, kit bags and equipment for a mix of ages from juniors to adults.
When asked how Harry managed to stay focused on his academic work, he said: “I’ve found being organised and by making sure I plan enough time to run the business and my studies is what made the difference.”
In terms of motivation, he added: “Money is one thing, seeing a customer walk out of the shop with a smile on their face, that’s another. Knowing that it’s a dying art and that I’m young, ] that I’m taking it on from an older man and I’m probably one of the youngest bat makers in England - for me, that inspires me to keep going."
When asked what advice he would give to other student entrepreneurs, he said: “Just stay focussed, and at the end of it when you’ve finished something and you see the reward, that’s how you get through the tough times, you just keep going.”
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