Travel agent in the running for national award

Adam Taylor, 27, joined Go Walkabout travel insurance, in Reginald Road, in April 2007, and since then, partner Harold Lawrence says, he has breathed life into what was a tired business.

Harold said: "It's quite a big thing. I was a one-man-band that was effectively being reactive rather than proactive, but he turned us around."

"He works hard and is very good with the customers, he does his best to give good service and go that extra yard."

These qualities, along with an innovative idea Adam had to market pet migration insurance, prompted Harold to nominate Adam for a British Educational Travel Association (BETA) award. He is now in a shortlist of three for the Most Promising Young Marketer award.

He will find out if he has won in a ceremony in Courthouse Hotel, Soho, London, on December 3.

Adam, now a partner of the insurance firm which specialises in one-way migration services, said: "I've never been listed for anything before and it's really nice to find out that I've been put forward for it.

"Harold has given me a chance. We've pushed it and we're going to continue to do so.

"Compared to major insurers, we don't have the same facilities to pump into marketing. But we've always prided ourselves on treating the customers well. You give them that personal touch.

"I couldn't do it if I couldn't get out of bed in the morning and want to go to work."