It's as clear as glass: experience, hard work and the vision to see a gap in the market will equal success.

That is what happened when Lewis Carr, who knew the conservatory and double glazing industry inside-out, got together with property developer Mark McCalmont, who had an electrical contracting firm.

Both saw the gap - a demand for conservatories with solid tiled or slate roofs - and went for it by starting Newspan Conservatories Ltd at Osgoodby Bagby, Thirsk.

By year one, Newspan had a team of seven, plus a sales manager and use of various sub-contractors when needed. Together they had generated £750,000 worth of orders, of which about £500,000 worth had been installed.

Now, well into its second year, sales turnover is already up by a good margin - and the men have entered both the Small Business of the Year and Growth Business of the Year categories of the 2004 Evening Press Business Awards.

Updated: 16:16 Monday, September 27, 2004