An entrepreneur who started his language venture from his bedroom has silenced the competition by scooping a cash prize..

Gavin Wheeldon, founder of Applied Language Solutions has been crowned joint winner in the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards 2006, which recognise those who have used creativity and sound business practice to make their business opportunity a roaring success.

Wheeldon set up the web translation business from his bedroom and now runs a thriving £1.5 million agency, employing 48 staff. He beat off stiff competition from nine other National Finalists, and an original field of hundreds of the UK’s most talented entrepreneurs, to be named a winner and receive the first prize of £25,000.

Simon Wainwright, HSBC’s head of business banking, comments that ‘Applied Language Solutions is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when a unique gap in the market is identified.’

Wheeldon, who runs the business with his 34-year old brother, says it has changed his life. ‘I am hugely passionate about what I do,’ he says. As well as the cash prize, the company wins £4,000 worth of software from Intuit and Google, as well as two years free business banking service from HSBC. A good month indeed.