A SELF-CONFESSED ‘reclusive North Yorkshire hillbilly’ has received overwhelming demand for his free mobile app just a month after its launch.

Steve Smethurst, from Reeth, near Richmond, has combined his 25 years of traditional management training experience with modern technology to develop iPrompt - the first app of its kind providing people with free management advice.

Since its launch in March, iPrompt has been downloaded more than 300 times by people from all over the world and has received five star reviews from iTunes users.

A self-confessed techno-phobe, Mr Smethurst has never owned a mobile phone, CDs or MP3s, lives with his wife miles away from his nearest shop, draws water from his own well and drives an old Land Rover powered by re-used vegetable oil.

Despite this, he has spent the last two years developing iPrompt with technical experts from Design 365 in Newton Aycliffe, to help business owners and managers who may not have the time or money to spend on courses.

He said: “If I work full-time, flat out for a year, I can deliver my workshops to about 200 people. In just under a month, the app has reached more than this.

“I suppose I am a bit of a hillbilly, living an idyllic life in rural North Yorkshire- but I do want my business to move with the times so I decided to combine my classic management training with more modern platforms.”

The app gives practical advice on a range of aspects such as delegation, discipline, performance issues, and motivation.

Mr Smethurst has become one of the north’s leading business management experts with more than 25 years’ experience and runs Reflex Training providing management coaching.

iPrompt is available to download at itun.es/gb/cw42I.i.