When Cliff Barber wanted to quit the catering business to spend more time with his family, he hit on a business idea that would utilise his experience of driving 50,000 miles a year.

Cliff, of Carhampton near Minehead, set up Passmaster Intensive - a driving school offering both intensive and traditional instruction methods. And canny Cliff knew that an internet presence would be crucial to his new business.

After a course at Bridgwater College - which helped him focus on what he wanted from his website - Cliff secured a grant from Connecting Somerset.

Passmaster Intensive’s site - built for Cliff by locally-based web developers ArcSite - has proved critical to the success of the business, gaining £4,200 worth of bookings in the first 6 weeks of trading. One notable customer, who needed to improve his driving skills with Cliff, booked an intensive driving course online via satellite from a survey ship in the Antarctic Ocean!

Cliff comments "Thanks to a grant from Connecting Somerset I was able to invest £500 in a website and the return on investment in just the opening weeks of trading has been quite amazing. This could not have been achieved without the help and support of the Connecting Somerset Team."

The success of Passmaster Intensive has benefited other Somerset businesses. For example, Cliff has built partnerships with local B&Bs who are able to offer free accommodation to the partners of those undergoing his driving courses.

All in all, a resounding success which Connecting Somerset is proud to be associated with.

www.passmasterintensive.co.uk