A Yorkshire-born marketing guru, who has found ways to help restaurateurs in Australia to boom against the economic tide, is returning to York this month to spread the word in the UK.

Howard Tinker is flying in to launch what he calls a “profits surge” seminar for York’s restaurateurs at Bedern Hall on Monday, May 23.

Mr Tinker, 47, who emigrated to Australia 15 years ago, claims his business, Australian Marketing Systems, has in some cases doubled restaurateurs’ profits or at least increased them between 20 and 30 per cent above the past year’s figures.

The seminar will highlight his launch of Restaurant Profits UK on York’s Danesmead Business Park, headed up by his old friend, Henry Tierney.

Mr Tinker said: “We help restaurant owners to make money. Many of them are impressively good at cooking food but not so good at business.” What was just as important as food quality, was the strategy of genuinely linking with customers, offering them gifts, cards and invitations on their birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

To that end a large database needed to be built up on customers “and that has to be managed as dearly as you manage your kitchen. You also have to learn how to build customer services through social media like Twitter and Facebook.

“The human ambience is the nub of giving customers a great experience.”

The cost of the seminar, from 9.30am to 4pm is £49, although subsequent tickets for partners are £24. Places can be booked by phoning Mr Tierney on 07855 832028.