The £1,000 scholarship was open to individuals entering their first year of undergraduate or taught postgraduate study in a field strongly related to marketing. 

Gallagher (pictured) holds a degree in business management and will begin studying for an MSc in strategic marketing at Swansea University in September. 

"Entries for the scholarship were extremely strong and came from individuals planning to study at universities throughout the UK," said Andrew Dalglish, director of Circle Research. 

"What set Ben apart was his sheer determination to gain an education after spending time working in the fitness industry and his commitment to deepening his understanding of the marketing sector. Ben wasn't going to let anything stand in the way of his ambitions to further his education, and as a business with humble beginnings and a good helping of drive, we loved his attitude!”