Sufyan Ismail used to stack shelves at Tesco while studying economics at the University of Manchester.

What happened next?
Sufyan Ismail is now director of 1st Ethical, an award-winning firm of independent financial advisers specialising in the needs of the Muslim community. 1st Ethical invests on behalf of clients in Sharia-compliant companies - those not involved in alcohol, tobacco or future markets. In return for these investments, clients receive a return based on the profits of these companies rather than interest.

Sufyan founded the business in November 2001, just over three years after graduating. His inspiration was his extra-curricular activities while a student. "I was involved in various Islamic student societies and used to contact Muslim businesses to sponsor student events," he recalls. "I noticed that Muslims were not taking up financial products due to their religious convictions and on the other side of the fence, products were available but nobody was matching them."

1st Ethical grew so quickly that Sufyan hired Bashir Timol to run it with him 10 months after launch. Sufyan and Bashir now have an 18strong team and the business is going from strength.

Last year, turnover reached £500,000 - a figure that is expected to double this year. The firm also scooped the award for fastest growing company in Shell LiveWire's Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2003.

Sufyan says his strengths are his motivation - and his mum. "I'm inspired by her desire to do the right thing in life'" he says of his weaknesses he admits to "having an eye for the big picture but relying too heavily on other people to deal with the smallest details."

Sufyan has these words of wisdom for graduates. "Dare to pursue a dream because you'll never discover new oceans until you have lost sight of the shore."