Member Article

Preston startup takes on international education

A Preston startup software company has changed the way that international student applications are processed in universities.

The Lancashire based Centurus Ltd was set up with an initial investment of £5k.

Campaigning for funding led to a further £20k being invested but the company was up and running on its first £5k.

It has now made a turnover of £75k and set to double that figure next year.

The initial investment was put into developing the coding and 15 of the young entrepreneurs friends worked for free on the project.

The company now employ 6 people, 3 based in India and 3 in the UK as well as working with 1 freelancer.

The system was built to sell to universities and colleges as well as third party agencies that deal with international student applications.

This means that the software is now used in over 150 institutions to streamline and manage international students applications.

It is likened to the UCAS system but for international applications.

The single international administration system bypasses systems that previously were spread across 100 different systems.

Managing Director, Centurus Limited, Dawood Fard said, “our system is quick to adapt and change and we are always eager for new ideas to challenge the way things are done.

“The biggest challenge is balancing feedback with the resources we have, it is also very hard to get our name out there, we are trying to educate the market

“We’ve seen a problem, taken an opportunity and found a simple solution without corporate nonsense and with limited resources.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .