A LAD who left school at 16 to pursue a career in the building industry is now, at 39, in charge of his own rapidly-expanding joinery firm in York with a turnover of more than £800,000.

What is more, Andrew Harris, managing director and founder of Direct Interior Solutions based at Buccaneer Court at the Airfield Business Park in Elvington, has been nominated as Business Personality Of The Year in The Press Business Awards 2004.

And Direct Interior Solutions, which is now tendering against the bigger, more established joinery companies in the UK, is pitching to become the Small Business Of The Year.

Andrew became a joinery apprentice in Cumbria, learning his trade in a small firm working on private houses as well as stately homes and listed buildings plus the commercial industry.

He came to York in 2000 and worked for Scottish company Gridline. He was soon promoted to management as his experience told while working on refurbishments of Marks & Spencer stores in York and around England.

Then he followed his dream to work for himself and launched Direct Interior Solutions from his garage at home.

Within six months, he was employing ten joiners working on the extension and redevelopment of York St John University on Lord Mayor's Walk, York, contracted to Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd.

In the eight months on site Direct Interior Solutions proved itself as a proficient, professional and versatile company. Works included the fitting of doors and frames, installation of ash panelled walls, window sills and other joinery works.

Since then the company has been involved in the refurbishment of the Tesco Superstore on Tadcaster Road, York, office fit-outs in the city and joinery packages in the Rotherham Schools Joint Venture Scheme and the Bassetlaw Joint Venture Scheme.

Since 2002, turnover has quadrupled and during that huge growth spurt the business moved out of Andrew's garage and into his office and workshop on the Elvington Airfield Business Park.

What goes around comes around: He works alongside York College to train apprentice joiners, with two apprenticeships already completed and two in training to become joiners of tomorrow.

Wherever possible he hires local sub-contractors as well as sourcing materials from local suppliers, drawing on a workforce of more than 30 tradespeople to work nationally on a variety of contracts.

Plans are under way to move into bigger premises and take on more staff.

Andrew said: "Direct Interior Solutions is now not only one man's dream, but a team effort with a shared vision for growth and prosperity."