Psychology graduate's top business award

AMBITIOUS graduate Andrew Mullett has certainly used his psychology studies on his way to becoming one of the region's brightest young business minds.

Nominated for the O2 Arena Entrepreneur of the Year 2006, the creator of promotional website Manchester Confidential is now attracting 11 million hits a day to the site as people plan their social lives in Britain's coolest regional capital.

His mission to place 'what's hot' in the city at the urban worker's fingertips has won the dot.com business North West 'One to Watch' Brand at the inaugural Hill Dickinson Top 100 Brands Awards.

The 35-year-old site was also shortlisted for the Media, Creative and Digital Industries award.

Psychology degree

Accepting his award from Sir Howard Bernstein at Urbis on November 13, Andrew who studied psychology at MMU and employs a host of business and arts graduates was praised for his unique website which include Eating Out, Arts and Entertainment, Body, Property and Kids.

And he was reunited with his former psychology lecturer Dr David Holmes who was speaking at the Awards about the psychology of brands and branding.

Dr Holmes said: "Manchester Confidential is one of the fresh new brands, which are vibrant, young and surprising, a bit like Urban Splash.

"Brands are like people: some are trusted old friends you stick with loyally like the Cooperative. They are simple and understood. Others are more dangerous and whisk you out of your comfort zone!"

10,000 quizzed

The survey, which was issued to 10,000 businesses, marketing and media professionals, in association with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) North West and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) North West.

For more about business entrepreneurship at MMU, go to www.business.mmu.ac.uk.

For more about psychology at MMU, go to www.did.stu.mmu.ac.uk.