A SOUTH Lakeland man has sailed into the national final of a competition to find the country’s most enterprising student.

Jonathon Nicholson of Windermere earned his place after claiming victory in the regional heat of the STEP awards held in Wigan on Tuesday.

He picked up £400 in prizemoney and is now in the running for the top prize of a further £1,000.

Mr Nicholson, a 20-year-old mechanical engineering student at Manchester University, was recognised for his efforts at Goacher Sails in Bowness, where he spent an eight-week placement and helped to convert the firm’s acetate rolls of sail designs into computer files.

As previously reported in Business Gazette, this enabled the sail-making firm to use new machines to cut the patterns for sails and their bags, covers, insignia and boat covers, saving time, money and materials.

He solved many existing sail cutting software problems, created a manual and assisted in the creation of sails in time for the World Championships.

His placement brought immediate benefits for Goacher Sails Ltd, which produces award-winning sails for racing boats and employs eight staff.

Managing director Stephen Goacher said: “We are delighted with Jonathan’s well deserved success. It has been a valuable project carried out with great enthusiasm, which has helped to increase our cloth-cutting efficiency.

“The STEP programme is extremely useful in giving small businesses short-term access to technical expertise in order to tackle specific projects.

The Shell Technology Enterprise Project runs placements in industry to help small firms and give students a taste of life working in business.

Commenting on his success, Mr Nicholson said: “I am thrilled to have come this far in a nationally recognised competition. I have learned so much this summer, which I am confident will stand me in good stead for the future”.

Mr Nicholson will now take his place in the national final, due to be held in London on October 28-29.