A FORMER managing director of the county's top Young Enterprise company in 2002 is using that experience to help launch his own new business.

James Evans, who is now 20, helped devise a complex computer software program to run a table tennis tournament when he and his friends were students at Dover Boys' Grammar School.

The program, which kept track of all the matches and more than 70 players, was so successful that orders were placed from other parts of the country, and the team attained affiliation with the English Table Tennis Association.

They went on to be named Young Enterprise Kent Company of the Year.

Now James, who lives in Deal, has turned his attention to cars, and has set up a web-based company www.firstcar.co.uk to help young drivers find the right vehicle for them.

James said: "Everybody remembers their first car, unfortunately not always for the right reasons.

"Helping young drivers find the right vehicle by uncovering the too often hidden costs of motoring is now a click away thanks to www.firstcar.co.uk.

"By bringing together the latest Internet technology and working closely with leading names such as the RAC, Endsleigh Insurance and Direct Auto Finance firstcar.co.uk is able to offer a precise 'on-the-road-price' for every car we sell.”

After free registration, users can browse firstcar's online database of suitable first time cars for sale. The price they see includes a personal insurance quote, the car's yearly road tax rate and the seller's asking price.

James added: "Too often people buy with their heart rather than their head. Our website takes a lot of the pain out of the process, in particular providing the real costs of the purchase, as many people buy without considering another major expense - insurance."

The website also allows users to get a stand-alone insurance quote, buy breakdown cover, get a car history check and arrange finance on a new or used vehicle.

Commenting on firstcar.co.uk, Jennifer Day of Endsleigh Insurance, said: "This service will significantly reduce the number of people being caught out by high insurance costs, a common problem with new and young drivers."

Billy Hollis, managing director of Hollis Motors, the Dover-based VW/SEAT dealer, said: "This resource is long overdue and will provide motor traders and private sellers with a great outlet for suitable first cars."

Alyson Howard, chairman of Institute of Directors, Kent, said: "The birth of firstcar.co.uk clearly demonstrates the value of Young Enterprise and how it can enthuse young people to develop a product and a business plan and then take them to market.

"We wish James and his colleagues success in their careers as entrepreneurs."