An employee at one of the largest suppliers of gas and electricity has used the pandemic as an opportunity to start his own business venture on the side.

Adam Wagenfield, from Borehamwood, took advantage of the extra time spent at home during lockdown to build a website and create what he describes as the UK's first automated virtual speed dating platform, called Kamio.

The development manager at Centrica decided to take an online course in web development in October, before working to build up Kamio, which he launched to the public in February.

The 31-year-old said: "It’s a virtual speed dating platform that lets you personalise who you meet and is completely free to use. I wanted to give single people something fun to do and to look forward to using from the comfort of home. I also think speed dating is more 'real' and gives people a better sense of compatibility than traditional 'swiping' apps where you decide who you’d like to meet based on photos and a small amount of text.

"Speed dating can be done by anyone and we welcome all age groups and demographics to give it a try - there's nothing to lose."

The former mechanical engineering Leeds University student added: "I work full-time at British Gas, Centrica, so have been doing this project in my spare time but have found it really rewarding and it has complemented my day job which is around developing technology-based customer journeys." When a 'virtual' date has been set, those involved are automatically put into a video chat room. They get three minutes to find out more about each other and have the option to 'like' each other during or after meeting.

If the date goes well other, contact details will be exchanged so the conversation can carry on separately.

Kamio has plenty of other virtual events to sign up to if a match proves elusive first time round.

Find out more about Kamio here