Schoolboys scale Website heights

The computer industry has more than its share of young millionaires. But when 15year-olds start breaking new ground in Website design even 20year-olds must wonder if there's any point getting out of bed in the morning.

TourWeb, a fully-registered Website design company run by four Junior Certificate students from CBS Tramore, Co Waterford, was among the winners in the recent national finals of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.

Since its launch in October 1996, TourWeb has been designing Websites for some very grownup businesses, including Waterford Castle, Chernobyl Aid Ireland, Microfix Computer Training and, most significantly, Microsoft.

The mother of all computer companies took an interest when TourWeb approached it after reaching the final of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme in 1997.

According to Ms Lisa TempleAshmore, education business manager for Microsoft Ireland: "I received a number of incredibly professional emails identifying a need for interesting IT-related content on a site for 13- to 18year-olds. When I contacted them I actually thought they were adults, but in the end it didn't make a difference because they were so professional."

Charged with designing a site aimed at young people, TourWeb came up with the Virtual Adolescent (http://www.iol.ie/owpower/) to guide browsers through features, surveys and chatrooms that try to address the requirements of the young surfer. The result is an attractive, readily navigable site which Microsoft says it is "extremely" pleased with.

Payment came in Microsoft's international currency Microsoft software. TourWeb now has a maintenance contract with the computer giant for the Virtual Adolescent site, and also supplies product feedback when Ms Temple-Ashmore wants to get a feel for the market she's targeting.

TourWeb's financial success was reflected in a £3,000 profit last year. Though not all payments are in yet, Mr David Power, TourWeb's sales manager, says 60 per cent will go towards wages (calculated from time sheets, of course) and dividends, while the remaining 40 per cent will go back into the bank.

The margins which can be achieved in this business particularly if you are a schoolboy living at home are best demonstrated by TourWeb's expenditure figure of £96 for the year.

As part of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme the boys had to draft detailed business plans and deliver professional computer-based presentations.

This targeted approach has led to a clear division of labour between design, finance, sales and administration, where each "executive" is responsible for his own brief.

According to Mr Power, TourWeb has secured all but one of the eight contracts it has pitched for.

New business is usually generated after a general mailing to selected businesses, outlining TourWeb's services. These are then followed up with phone calls, when a meeting can be arranged. The meeting will usually feature a computer-based presentation, and sometimes a mock outline of TourWeb's vision for the Website in question.

The Waterford Castle Hotel Website (www.iol.ie/ waterfordcastle) has been one of TourWeb's biggest successes. Two or three bookings come from the Website each week, and it has received more than 6,000 visitors since last July.

Ms Deirdre Kearns, sales and marketing manager with Waterford Castle Hotel, is happy with the result. "Their approach to working with us was both professional and thorough and I have no hesitation in recommending them to any business looking to develop a Website."

While TourWeb's computing skills have been developed largely through trial and error on computers at home, youthful exuberance is not reflected in "bells and whistles-style" Java applications. "No, we wouldn't consider those features practical for business sites. Most people are looking for useful information as quickly as possible. They need simple layouts that are quick to download. Older browsers are unable to read some of the new applications, so we have to take that into consideration," says Mr Power.

TourWeb's latest venture has been with Microfix, a Waterford-based computer training company. Using the company's facilities, the boys designed the site in two days over the Easter break. Mr Joe Fitzgerald, director of Microfix, says: "What they are producing is equivalent to what people doing this stuff for 10 years would do. I just had to say exactly what I wanted and they took it on board and did it the way I wanted it done. They show very mature business skills, working very much as a team."

CBS Tramore's Maths and Geography teacher, Mr John Hartery, has been a pioneer of all things "techie" in the school. He reminisces about how "green" the boys were when they started out two years ago. "It is remarkable to see the way they have grown as people since they set up. They have stuck at it, and are so well instructed and coached in the right business methods they have it within themselves to succeed. It's a terrific example of how through co-operation and teamwork each can achieve more."

Now CBS Tramore (http:// homepage.tinet.ie/cbstramore/) has become a hive of Internet activity. TourWeb is not the only Web design company operating in the school, with the Netsurf design company winning third place in the All Ireland Senior Category of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme in 1997.

"When we were growing up you were just told to `shut up' and know your place. The difference today is empowerment through technology, and given the chance most of these young people can surpass your wildest expectations," says Mr Hartery.