Bank on the little guys

Back in 1991 I entered the York office of Tom Henderson, Barclays Bank's North Yorkshire area manager, with knock-kneed trepidation.

In those harsh days Britain was plunged into a deep, dark recession. That year began with inflation rates at nine per cent and the average mortgage rate at a gaspworthy 11.39 per cent.

It was tough enough to make a case to borrow cash, let alone ask for free lolly, but that's exactly what I did.

And Tom instantly and enthusiastically, said: "My pleasure. Here's £5,000."

The reason was that we had separately both been thinking about ways of pepping up a demoralised business community in North and East Yorkshire by offering them an exciting competition.

As president of the Institute of Bankers' Yorkshire region he had also been chewing over the merits of getting worthy regional entrepreneurs to hold up a mirror to their successes against such huge odds.

That applied particularly to small businesses who represented about 70 per cent of the regional economy, the little guys who would prove to be the bank's seedcorn for years to come.

While Tom was prepared to bankroll it, we were prepared to open our columns to the success stories.

The result was the birth of the Evening Press Small Business of the Year.

It was such a riproaring success year after year that the bank was later to double its input in order to broaden the categories.

Then the Government's North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council - forerunner to the Learning and Skills Council - arrived as sponsors and the event took on a new surge of enthusiasm.

Categories broadened further with the introduction of Progress Through People awards.

Tom, now retired and living in London, but still with a house in York, said: "Many people at the time thought that banks were interested only in the large businesses and that they neglected small ventures

"The notion that small businesses were crucial to the regional economy was only just taking off.

"Now everyone understands that and this competition had a big role in that awareness."

Meanwhile, the competition attracted more sponsors and categories. It reflected vital corporate areas that still included small businesses but now covered a wide spectrum, from new and growth businesses of the year to business personality of the year and, reflecting the expanding hi-tech credentials of the region, e-commerce business of the year and the best use of new technology titles.

The grand finals were always tense and exciting, but suddenly they stopped being cosy affairs in the Evening Press front office (which I tried in my amateur way to script) and became breathtaking examples of the art of presentation that only experts could handle.

Hundreds who attended the finals when they moved into York's Merchant Adventurers' Hall will recall that 14th century parleying place for entrepreneurs awash with swirls of laser light, video images zipping across a phalanx of plasma screens and an electronic fanfare ending with a pneumatic hiss.

Each year the final grew evermore spectacular until it became THE most exciting, razzmatazzy event on the business calendar, reflecting the region's growing economic energy and success.

The event lost none of its oomph when last year it moved into the gleaming new £20 million Ebor Stand at York Racecourse. This year, with burgeoning demand, we will stage it in the even-bigger Voltigeur Suite in the Knavesmire Stand.

Tom says: "I'm delighted that the seed we planted back then became a sapling and finally a bloody great tree with branches, light and shade."

The hall of fame

Hail to the 13 previous overall winners of the Evening Press Business of the Year.

2003 Omnicom Engineering of York, run by Brian Richards, managing director

2002 Gamestation, of Clifton Moor, York, founded by Stephen Hall and Julian Gladwin.

2001 Pocklington Coachworks, of Osbaldwick, run by Fran Johnson.

2000 Pocklington Montessori School, Pocklington, run by Rosie Pressland.

1999 York Nutritional Laboratory, Osbaldwick, run by John Graham.

1998 BSC Fitters, Osbaldwick, run by Alan Corlett.

1997 Mowbray Eating House and Ice Cream Bar, York, run then by Sheldon and Janine Haseltine.

1996 York Survey Supply Centre, Clifton Moor, York, run by Bill and Liz Heath.

1995 Safemark, York, run by Neal Williams.

1994 York Box, Clifton Moor, York, run by Richard and Hugh Sykes.

1993 White Rose Line (now York Boat) run by John and Denise Howard.

1992 NDSM Ltd, Harome, run by Nigel Metcalfe.

1991 Advance Fire Services, York, run by Ken and Janet Lawn.

Updated: 09:59 Tuesday, June 01, 2004