IT IS a busier day than most for Dr Paul Gibson and his 22 staff at the award-winning IT firm PureNet.

Today, the £1 million-plus turnover company York-born Paul launched more than four years ago moves from the IT Centre at York Science Park into Kensington House at the York Business Park.

The bigger HQ is necessary because PureNet’s three-year plan envisages 35 people on the payroll by 2013 with a turnover of £1.7 million.

PureNet has already won three categories in The Press Business Awards – New Business Of The Year, plus Small Business of the Year and last year, the Science & Technology title.

Paul, aged 42, says: “Every 27 seconds we help our clients secure another online sale.”

They include football clubs West Ham United and Birmingham City, Prostar, Academia, University of York and Purple Mountain Bike Hire.

Success for Paul was evident the moment he won the Logica Computing Project prize for the best final year project in his computing science degree at Staffordshire University; and it was confirmed in 1996 when he earned his PhD in the application of artificial intelligence and neural networks.

He was with Nestle UK in York for three years and moved up the ladder over the next 20 years, including time as chief systems architect for Siemens in Genoa, later responsible for 400 in-house developers in the UK, Italy and Germany.

After a Siemens buyout of Aurega, he invested his share into 12 students’ properties in York, and bought a coffee and book shop in Kirkbymoorside, revamping it and selling it after six years.

Finally he became operations director for NetConstruct in Wetherby, before launching PureNet.

Which job (other than your own) would you like to have and why?

An airline pilot. That's what I wanted to be when I was younger. I love flying. But to be honest I love what I do now and wouldn't want to change it. Maybe own an airline one day (in my dreams).

Greatest achievement?

Getting PureNet to where it is today and working with some truly talented people.

Biggest mistake?

Failure is part of success. But my biggest would be not selling a property before the bubble burst.

What makes you most angry?

Not much - I'm a pretty chilled person. Oh maybe, traffic on the outer ring road in the mornings.

What do you need to make life complete?

I'm very content: Great business, good health, great friends and great family. Picture perfect; well… maybe a faster car and a holiday!

Why do you make a difference?

I hope that both clients and staff see that I care about what I do and that they get the best from me. Also, I think my experience both in business and IT adds value.

Your epitaph

I’d hope it would read “Going up…” or “This isn't the first time someone’s dug a hole for me to get into.”