A Fordham construction student has beaten hundreds from across the country to take third place in a national business competition.

Alex Theobald was one of a team of four joinery students from Cambridge Regional College who proved they had business acumen as well as practical skills when their Charity Woodwork Company proved a runaway success at the Gazelle Colleges Market Maker competition.

Pitting their wits as well as their product – beautifully hand-crafted iPad holders – against some of the best business-minded students in the country, the team of four was delighted with their third place win.

Alex, 17, of Trinity Close, Fordham, said: “I did part of the presentation and it was very nerve-wracking. We had to work hard on the business plan and answer tough questions. It’s a big achievement to take third place, because the standard of the other entries was very high.”

More than 300 teams took part in the competition, with the finalists facing a grilling as they pitched their businesses to a ‘Dragons’ Den’ panel at the Institute of Directors in London.

CRC tutor Mark Piller said he was immensely proud of the successful students, who raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices through their woodwork company.

He said: “They did a fantastic job pitching the business to the judges, who loved the product and were really impressed by the charitable element. Everyone wanted to buy the iPad holders there and then.

“I’m very proud of them, and it is great to see construction students doing so well in a business competition. To come third in a competition which attracted 320 team entries is a phenomenal achievement.”