A YOUNG entrepreneur from York is getting a vital chance to demonstrate his skills before the region's business elite next month.

Sam Rickett, a former University of York first-class honours computer science graduate, who won The Press Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2005, is being given a platform at the Yorkshire International Business Convention, in Harrogate, on June 9.

Sam, founder of virtual online trading website www.Bullbearings.co.uk and specialist software developer and consultancy Everlution Software, is being given the opportunity by the awards sponsor, design build and development company, Thirsk-based Severfield-Reeve Projects (SRP), which is again sponsoring the Young Entrepreneur Award this year.

SRP was so impressed with Sam's entrepreneurial and innovative flair at last year's awards that it vowed to give him a year's support and advice to help him to develop his business.

As a result, Sam is devising a special stock exchange trading game, linked to the Footsie 100 Index, which will take pride of place at the company's stand at the Yorkshire International Business Convention, where it will be launching a new company branding to include a brochure and website.

Sam launched www.Bullbearings.co.uk as a student investment banking society in 2000 at university. The business now has 50,000 members, growing at a rate of about 600 a week, and is among the largest providers of financial simulation software in the country.

After a visit to a London trading floor, Sam also launched the venture as a web-based virtual trading simulation offering novice and professional traders the chance to enhance their trading skills without risking real money.

Two years ago, he launched Everlution which provides specialist software and consultancy to businesses ranging from start-ups to large institutions.

He said: "I am really thrilled with SRP's continuing support. A chance to devise and demonstrate a special virtual stock market at the Yorkshire International Business Convention will be valuable and a lot of fun."

Updated: 11:37 Monday, May 15, 2006