A former chef turned technology salesman is taking on the European market with his own brand of screen cleaning products.

Paul Palmer, 44, of Renflew Close, Beckton, launched his company Nuopod in a bid to revolutionise the way people treat their phones, tablets and laptops.

Originally a chef, stress and alcohol addiction forced him to seek out a career elsewhere and he found himself working in the technology retail industry, before opting for the self-employment route

After securing a £9,500 loan from the Newham base of the London Small Business Centre, Paul was able to expand his business, exporting microfibre cloths and cleaning solutions across Europe.

“I worked in retail for years, but with the rise of zero-hour contracts and a lack of loyalty for long-term employees I began looking elsewhere,” he said.

“But I would have to have been trading for around two years before the banks would even consider helping me, so the loan effectively gave me a two-year headstart.

“I’d still be dealing with my first product but I’m already selling a decent line, thanks to the loan.”

Born in Croydon but raised in Galway, Ireland, Paul began selling through shops along the Jubilee line – a kiosk at London Bridge, and even a cafe at Stratford station – and hopes to make his market on the global cleaning industry

“At the moment there’s no household name for screen cleaner,” he added.

“I want that household name to be Nuopod.”