A FORMER pupil at Pershore High School has shown budding entrepreneurs how it should be done after taking up the reigns of one of Europe’s largest e-commerce businesses.

Paul Johnson, aged 26, who was a finalist in the Daily Mail’s Enterprising Young Brits Entrepreneur of the Year award 2004, is now the UK managing director of zooplus.co.uk which sells more than 7,000 food and accessory products for pets.

With two major European logistic hubs, more than 250 members of staff, a presence in 16 international markets and with annual sales increasing at around 40 per cent, it is a long way in a short space of time for the Vale youngster who said he was loving every minute of it.

“It’s very exciting and a bit of a dream come true for me,” he said.

“I have always been interested in e-commerce. It’s an area that I think will continue to grow quickly and for me it’s a very exciting job.”

Paul, who lives in Cropthorne, ran his own small business while at university in Worcester which employed three of four members of staff and provided IT services to businesses around the Midlands, but sold it to concentrate on running zooplus.

He added: “The experience I gained from founding and running a business cannot be gained anywhere else. It is certainly risky and you need good support around you, but it can be so rewarding.

“My friends and family have always known what I was like, I want to achieve things as soon as I can and they are very happy for me.”