A JUNIOR doctor’s online market place to make it easier for people to get everyday tasks done has been shortlisted for a national business award.

Florence Iwuoha, a doctor at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, came up with the idea for My- TaskAngel when struggling to order food from her favourite restaurant.

The website, which will start operating in January, will have a database of local businesses and skilled individuals willing to carry out everyday tasks, such as window cleaning, dog walking, food shopping, picking up takeaways, ironing or jumpstarting a car, as well as businesses such as plumbers, removal men and builders.

MyTaskAngel has now been shortlisted as one of three finalists in the business plan of the year category at the national Startups Awards.

Dr Iwuoha said: “I got the idea to start the business while in my final year of medical school.

“Prior to this, I ran an online niche DVD sale business and realised I was actually interested in business as well, so I took a business course.

“The idea for MyTaskAngel was born during a discussion with a friend while studying for exams.

“We wondered why we had to go all the way to our local Nando’s restaurant to get hold of our favourite takeaway, as they do not offer a delivery service.

“This irritation led me to envision a website where people could post tasks and have others execute them for a fee.”

Dr Iwuoha believed the website, which will be started at a local level, with plans to extend it nationally, will offer an affordable means of getting day-to-day things done.

Individuals registering to carry out tasks will undergo criminal record checks, and businesses will also be checked for legitimacy.

Dr Iwuoha said: “I can see there being quite a market and sometimes some tasks can be done by people who are already doing them.

“If someone is already doing shopping it might not take them much extra effort to do that for someone else.

“And with the cost of driving to the shops or getting public transport there, it might actually be cheaper for someone else to do it for them.”

Judges at the Startups Awards, which recognise UK entrepreneurial talent, include Toni Mascolo, chief executive of hairdressers Toni & Guy and Julie Meyer, chief executive of Ariadne Capital.