PILGRIM Management Consultants Ltd, of North Stanley, Ripon, is pitching for no fewer than four categories: Small Business of the Year; top exporter; best growth business; and business personality of the year.

The last category points to the inspired leadership of David Thomson who, in four years, has expanded its client base of manufacturing companies into the automotive, aerospace, electronics, defence and rail/marine sectors.

They include Rolls Royce Aero Engines, Lear Corporation and the Ford Motor Company. The order book for next year is as buoyant as last year's and new work from a US client to extend its Swedish plant into Europe could mean Pilgrim generating an export turnover of about £100 million.