A BUDDING entrepreneur is trying to turn his life around by setting up a new business venture.

Peter Clarke, who was left with a brain injury and speech impediment after being attacked by three men in 2003, has teamed up with computer game graphics designer Rich O’Donnell to run Game Tech Innovations.

Former builder Rich, like Peter, is registered disabled because of a back injury following a car accident.

The pair are hoping their business venture, building and selling bespoke PC and computer control platforms, will take them off claiming benefits and eventually create jobs for the community.

But with 10 orders in the pipeline for the hand-made platforms, Peter and Rich are struggling to get the business off the ground.

Peter said: “We’re having trouble finding suitable premises, but we have applied for a start up loan from a charity called the Fredericks Foundation.

“Rather than looking at credit checks like a bank, they look at your credit score and go through the business idea and the feasibility of your idea.

“With the loan we’ll be able to find somewhere to kick-start our business.”

With good connections in the computer game industry, Rich is sure the business is on to a winner with the module platforms.

He said: “I think there is a lot of demand for the product, which is reasonably priced, especially when you compare in relation to how much computers, monitors and controls cost.”

The business is a positive step for Peter who in the past found himself on the wrong side of the law with a history of possessing cannabis, which he said he has taken for medicinal purposes.

Rich said: “Peter is a really genuine guy but got mixed up with the wrong crowd and he is stepping away from that.”

A second part of the business involves Rich designing terrain scenery for computer games, which is where he gets many of his gaming connections.

Recently he has been involved with The Bloodhound Project. It is an industry-backed engineering adventure, using a 1,000mph world land speed record attempt to inspire the next generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Rich said: “A lot of the guys I deal with online can get very involved with their games.

“The platforms we offer will help them stay more comfortable and immersed with their games.”

For more information, visit gametechinnovations.co.uk.