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27.
March
2019.
Fireman Steve battles to be millionaire entrepreneur

Midlands firefighter Stephen Walker is hoping to be a millionaire by the end of 2019 after entering a competition organised by a property wealth education and training company.
 

He’s one of 40 contestants who entered the Millionaire Maker challenge at the start of the year and, after passing an audition, he’s being mentored by judges before facing a public vote in December.
 

The aim of the contest, organised by Doncaster-based Touchstone Education, is to help as many contestants as possible to generate a turnover of £1million or more.
 

The first to reach the target will receive a VIP package worth £15,000 including an all-expenses paid trip to a Formula One race weekend with Touchstone.
 

Father of three Stephen, 44, has been involved in property investment since 2010 when he bought a buy-to-let flat with his mum.  After becoming involved in several more projects he decided to enter Millionaire Maker.


His goal is to top the £1million mark with a project to convert old pubs, offices, banks, post offices, police or fire stations into residential units, leased as serviced accommodation.

“Where there’s an opportunity to have a retail shop element on the ground floor, I’ll always look to include that,” he said. “I’d like to have four commercial conversions either purchased, in the planning stage or going through the legal process by August which leaves the rest of the year for conversion and set up.”

Stephen says he’s enjoying the process so far, despite being challenged and forced out of his comfort zone.

“Winning the Millionaire Maker Challenge would be an amazing and life changing thing for me and my family,” he said.

“I’d be able to network with some of the greatest business minds in the industry which in turn will help me grow my business so I can build a legacy for my children and my family members.”
 

In January competitors submitted business plans and each was asked to explain what they wanted from the process and what they hoped to achieve, other than to make money.
 

A final group of 25 was selected by judges, based on the quality of their submissions and on their determination to succeed.
 

They have been split into two teams, one mentored by Touchstone’s Chief Executive, Paul Smith and Managing Director Abi Hookway, and the other by Paul’s wife and business partner, Aniko, and the company’s Commercial Director Gordon Dutfield, with each battling to produce the first millionaire.
 

After visiting judges’ houses for an intensive training weekend, the contestants are now putting their business plans into practice with help and advice from mentors during weekly catch-up sessions. Each contestant is keeping a video diary to provide a record of their investment journey.  

Touchstone, which runs courses and seminars across the UK focused on investment in property, launched the competition as a way of bringing investors together to share their experiences and expertise.
 

Paul said: “We’re always looking for new ways to impart our knowledge and this X-Factor style competition helps to generate some energy and excitement around the process.
 

“By adding a competitive edge, there’s an added incentive for our investors, with help from our staff, to push themselves further to make their property portfolios worker harder for them.”
 

He added: “We’ve already seen some early wins for our investors and, even at this early stage, several are on course to reach the £1million mark by the end of the year.”

 

For more information or high-resolution photographs please email carlos@carlosalbamedia.co.uk or telephone 0141 637 6399 or 07880505647

 

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