A COMPANY specialising in an audio-visual rental service fought off tough opposition to be named as one of the UK's ten brightest new businesses by HSBC Bank.

HotAV has reached the final of the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards which recognises the achievements of businesses less than two years old. The company now goes forward to the final in London on October 7 with a top prize of £20,000 for the winner.

Dave Savage, 40, who grew up in Tottenham, North London, before moving to High Wycombe, realised he had to come up with a unique service if he were to kick-start the AV business he and his business partner, Steven Worrall, took over in early 2002.

The idea he came up with was simple to supply equipment such as projectors, to hotels and conference centres for use for their own client's business needs and to leave the equipment on site charging only for the time it was used.

HotAV takes care of maintenance and provides theft insurance cover.

Dave, Steve and another silent partner, Roger Kendrick, set up a new company, HotAV in August 2002 to develop the new venture.

HotAV in Lincoln Road on the Cressex Business Park in High Wycombe, has eight employees and now supplies AV equipment to more than 200 sites around the UK.

As one of the ten finalists the company will receive £4,000 worth of consultancy and software.