A Belfast entrepreneur is investing £160,000 in his online campsite software business to create six new jobs and boost sales.

CampStead Ltd, set up by Andrew Norris from Queen’s University, has developed a range of web-based campsite and caravan park management software systems that allows sites to manage their parks and bookings more efficiently.

The software allows them to check for availability simultaneously, from multiple locations and create bookings in seconds without the worry of overbooking.

Andrew has gained extensive software development and web design experience over the last five years and has spent the past three years developing the systems, which have been successfully trialled and tested.

The company is now aiming to achieve annual sales of £250,000 and employ six staff by 2012.

Mr Norris said: “We provide campsites and caravan parks with a range of products which, when used together, provide a unique offering. Our management systems are specifically customised and are simple and easy to use.

“I am confident that we can achieve our ambitious targets. The support from Invest NI is essential in allowing us to develop our capability and undertake significant marketing activity over the next three years to drive forward sales in the UK and Europe.”

Invest Northern Ireland contributed £34,030 towards the project.

The CampStead project was recently judged a £1,000 winner in the NICENT Headstart Programme.

Oonagh Hinds, manager of Invest NI’s eastern regional office, said: “This young entrepreneur has identified a gap in the market and has developed an innovative product which has global potential and we will be working closely with Andrew to help him fully exploit this.”