A MECHANICAL engineering graduate has reached the semi-finals of a national competition for entrepreneurs.

Oxford Brookes graduate Josh Shires, 24, reached the latter stages of the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs with his idea for a headphone holder case for iPhones.

The Mous Musicase holds and unrolls headphones in a slimline case to stop them getting tangled.

The Abingdon resident said: “It wasn’t until after I graduated that I was able to concentrate fully on my product idea but I’ve since continued to receive a lot of support from Oxford Brookes to turn my idea into a business.

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“I left my full-time job eight weeks ago to concentrate on my business Mous. We recently went to 10 Downing Street and met with the Prime Minister’s entrepreneur adviser to talk about what was working well for start-up businesses in the UK.”

Dr Kevin Maynard, of the university’s research, business and development department, worked closely with Mr Shires.

“Josh has achieved his goal through his own vision to create a fantastic potential business based on extremely well-designed products. He has the drive and determination to see his vision come to reality.”

Mr Shires and business partner James Griffiths launched their product last Friday at a gadget show in New York.

The pair did not make it through to the finals of the competition, which awards a £10,000 cash prize to help the winner launch their business.

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