A STUDENT with the ambition of one day owning his own business is studying at the University of Durham in order to accomplish his goal.

Sam Waterfall, an honours graduate in financial and business economics from the University of Newcastle, is enrolled at Durham's MA in Entrepreneurship programme.

"I think the programme provides great insight into running a business and is very beneficial," he said. "And I am meeting people in business and that's important."

Sam is 23 and currently working as co-ordinator of Women into the Network, a new umbrella initiative which hopes to get more women networking and developing businesses in the region. Already it has harnessed support available from the North-East's 700 business networks.

"With a programme like this you get to do the reading that you've always wanted to do," he explained. "At present I don't feel that I have enough information to run my own business. This is part of the process of preparing myself."

He said he expects to have his own firm up and running when he is about 30, and wants to work in the area of business management and strategy.

The Northern Echo and Durham University Business School are offering a reader a free place on the MA in Entrepreneurship course, which starts next January.

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree and/or relevant experience and be willing to attend an interview at the University of Durham Business School.

To apply to win a place on the programme, contacting Jill Robson on (0191) 374 2233.