A ROW has broken out after York was criticised for a lack of entrepreneurs preventing a healthcare employment agency creating more than 150 jobs in North Yorkshire.

The charge has been levelled by Nigel Fielding, managing director of Abacus Care who accuses the area of "apparent apathy" in failing to set up a York franchise to add to the 26 it already has throughout England and Wales.

In spite of best efforts, Abacus Care, whose combined turnover is £13 million, has been unable to find a local manager to run a York business which Mr Fielding reckons will generate more than 150 jobs for full and part-time healthcare staff with hospital, residential and care homes in York and the surrounding area.

Mr Fielding said: "I'm staggered by an apparent apathy in this area about starting a business. We've always been in a fortunate position to have a selection of high-calibre people to choose from. But we feel we have drawn a blank in York."

But Norman Whyte, chief executive of the York Selbly and Malton Business Advice Centres Ltd, said today: "I completely refute the criticism of apathy and lack of venturers on behalf of the best part of 1,000 people who see me each year eager to explore the prospects of self-employment. It is true that there are fewer start-ups, but this is in line with the national picture in which the number of new-born businesses have dropped by between 16 and 20 per cent.

"If people are more reluctant to break out on their own, it is because employment levels are high. There are relatively few people armed with redundancy pay looking for ways of a starting a business."

Mr Fielding remains puzzled by the lack of response, particularly as Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced plans to increase cash spending on the National Health Service by £40 billion a year by the year 2007.

He said: "There's a need for the type of service we're offering. Nursing homes and hospitals are crying out for more staff. It's a shame that there's no one with local knowledge and enthusiasm to rise to the challenge. On average in the first year each franchise creates more than 150 jobs for registered general nurses, registered mental nurses and care assistants.

"This offers a welcome boost to the local economy and could be happening in York if we can find the right candidate."

Anyone interested in running a franchise in York should contact 01695 585400.

Updated: 09:00 Tuesday, April 23, 2002