Surfing and business are not often mentioned in the same breath, but a Portrush company is trying to bring the two worlds together.

Alive Surf School, one of the oldest in Northern Ireland, is the only one in the UK and Ireland which specialises in corporate days that combine business skills training and surfing lessons on the Causeway Coast.

The concept is the brainchild of Ricky Martin, who returned to the province last summer to head up thesurf school. He was previously a recruitment consultant and business development manager for eight years and worked in Australia for the last five, specialising in the investment banking and funds management sector.

After taking over the surf school he joined his two professions together.

“Our goal is to provide not just a great team building experience but also skills training that employees can use when they return to the office to ensure maximum revenue for their organisation.

“Having organised many corporate team building days I have always felt that this ability to up-skill as part of the team building has always been missing — through Alive Surf School I am rectifying that,” he said.

The corporate days for business include talks on cold calling, interviewing, floating cvs, writing Press and internet adverts and team building.