A SECOND top speaker has been announced for a major Echo-backed conference to promote Southampton.

Carl Churchill, managing director of NetPay Solutions Group, will give a presentation entitled, Mind the Gap – finding that USP, at the South Coast Business Works at the city’s Novotel hotel in February.

Businesses are always looking for new and innovative ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors; to find that unique selling point that ensures they stand out from the crowd. Carl Churchill will talk about how he broke into an established market place and has revolutionised the payments industry.

At 19, Carl was listed at number one in the Rich List 2020, a projection formulated by Royal Bank of Scotland who predicted he would be worth £100 million.

Since then Carl has created a string of successful technology businesses including communications provider murphx Innovative Solutions Limited. The company grew beyond the £50 million turnover mark and employed 140 people when it was sold it to communications business the Daisy Group in 2010.

Carl left Daisy in 2010 to found NetPay a fast growing financial technology business which is now responsible for delivering online and face-to-face payment processing services to 10,000 locations across the UK and Ireland.

NetPay Solutions Group is celebrating a double award win this week after winning the coveted Business of the Year Award at the Growing Business Awards last night and Carl picking up a bronze award in the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Small Business on Wednesday.

The keynote speaker at the event will be Carnival Cruises executive vice-president guest experience Elaine Holt who will deliver a speech entitled ‘Standing out from the Crowd”.

The exhibition, on Wednesday, February 10, will be a valuable networking opportunity for established and up-and-coming companies.

Leading solicitors Trethowans are returning as principal sponsors for the fourth year running alongside event partners Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton. The event runs from 10am-4pm. To find out about rates on exhibitor packages call 023 8042 4872 or email businessworks@dailyecho.co.uk Visitors can register for free at dailyecho.co.uk/businessworks.