Firm gives worker £200,000 present

FastLane Displays Ltd, based at Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor, rewarded graphic designer Andrew Northfield, of Copmanthorpe, with 100 shares in recognition of his work towards the company's success.

Sales and marketing director Geoff Hill said the current worth of the shares was about £200,000.

They represent a nine per cent interest in the exhibitions company, which has a half-a-million pound turnover a year.

The present was a total surprise for Andrew, who joined the company as a management trainee after leaving Tadcaster Grammar School in 2001.

His boss told him to expect a meeting with clients on his birthday.

At a party attended by surprise guests including Lee Clarke, one of Andrew's former teachers; Andrew's parents, Peter and Linda; and his girlfriend, Ali Kenure; Mr Hill and co-director Mike Topliss presented Andrew with an engraved tankard as a birthday present.

But then they sprung the real surprise by asking him to read out a letter assigning him with the shares.

Mr Hill said: "Mike and I are really pleased with the way you have developed from that bright, forward-thinking teenager into a well-balanced young man."

Andrew, clearly shocked, said: "I am very, very surprised.

"I've been given a really good experience and I want to say thank you to Geoff and Mike."

FastLane Displays Ltd, which started in 1997, designs and builds display space for companies at trade exhibitions. Three years ago, the company's sales and marketing director, Geoff Hill, talent-spotted Andrew at Tadcaster Grammar School while he was talking to students about the graphic design industry.

Mr Hill said: "He really stood out as a bright young lad. We thought he was too good to miss."

The company offered Andrew the chance to set up the company's graphic design department.

Despite their offer to sponsor him through university, he joined the company straight after school.

Updated: 10:45 Tuesday, November 25, 2003