BOSSES of a unique business which promotes discount leisure breaks are celebrating its first birthday with an 8,500-strong customer database.

Droitwich-based Hotelshop, which sources short break holidays in the United Kingdom and abroad, was founded by Vivienne Hudson and Julie Shorrock.

It now has a team of 14 and has booked breaks in excess of £1.2m.

Julie said it was the only company in the UK to promote discount leisure breaks via the national media.

"It was hard work and expensive to set up the company because we had to install a comprehensive telecommunication system and computer network," said Julie. "But now we're very proud with the fruits of our labour."

Vivienne and Julie were participants in the University of Warwick Science Park's successful TeamStart Programme.

"The programme helped us by re-enforcing our business idea," said Vivienne.

"The financial advice and networking opportunities it provided were also very helpful.

"Above all, the programme gave us confidence to go on and exploit a gap in the market we'd identified. In spite of the world going 'dotcom' mad, people still like to speak to people not machines when booking a break."

The TeamStart programme is for successful business executives who have complimentary skills and share a common ambition to build their own major business. The initiative provides practical support in developing business propositions

Harry Stott, TeamStart's project manager, said: "I always had high expectations of HotelShop because of the calibre of its management but the outcome has been even better and there's still more to come."

Mr Stott said this was due to the team's skilful approach and the amount of sheer hard work.

"The management not only identified a strong business opportunity but applied the latest in telecommunication and commercial computer applications to build their business without being overwhelmed by the technology," he added.