Teenager Tom Ellis is barely out of school but has already started two successful businesses. Mr Ellis, 18, from Boars Hill, Oxford, is at Exeter University studying geography, but his direction is clear when it comes to a career as an entrepreneur.

While studying for his A-Levels at St Edward's School, north Oxford, he spotted a gap in the market for tennis balls supplied at a reasonable price.

He explained: "I play tennis and you pay £9 for a tube of balls in a shop but that did not make sense, as I know they are made in the Philippines for a 2p a ball.

"I did some research and found a supplier in Kent who could provide them to me much cheaper."

Then Mr Ellis used the Google Earth website to identify which properties had tennis courts near his Boars Hill home and targeted them with a leaflet drop.

He also marketed schools, including Abingdon School and St Edward's, and sold hundreds of balls for the equivalent of £4.50 a tube. But once the summer tennis season finished, he started thinking about what else he could sell.

The answer came when a family friend brought some Champagne from a French vineyard that did not export to the UK.

Mr Ellis added: "The owner of the vineyard had previously had a bad experience with English imports but our friend managed to negotiate with them and I was able to arrange to be the exclusive importer."

Leroux-Mineau is a grand cru Champagne which is only available from 17 French villages in the region.

Despite coming to the market late, Mr Ellis still managed to sell about £5,000 worth of Champagne over the crucial Christmas period, and now he is building up to supply summer parties and weddings.

He has also set up a website which covers both his businesses and has also entered the Young Business Person category of the Oxfordshire Business Awards.

Mr Ellis has drawn on the experience of his father, Tony, who ran his own business importing swimming pools before running the Parlands Hotel in Banbury Road and the Falcon Hotel in Abingdon Road, Oxford.

He said: "My dad has been my inspiration and I have always wanted to run my own business.

"Being able to learn the ropes now will be really useful in the future."

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