Homeserve boss recognised for entrepreneurial flair

RICHARD Harpin, founder and chief executive of Walsall-based emergency repairs group Homeserve has demonstrated his entrepreneurial qualifications by walking away with a major national award.

Mr Harpin was crowned Entreprenuer of the Year at this year’s national PLC awards, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Gloucestershire-based SuperGroup, which floated on the London Stock Exchange last year, scooped Best New Company of the Year at the ceremony, which was attended by 1,700 guests including fund managers, analysts, corporate advisors, investment bankers and representatives of quoted companies.

The awards, sponsored by PwC, are in their 25th year and reward excellence in the small and mid-cap company sector. This year’s event celebrated firms who had best weathered the recession.

The winners were:

Best Investor Communication Award:  The Rank Group

Best Performing Share Award:  Volex Group  

Fund Manager of the Year Award:  BlackRock

Turnaround of the year award:  Volex Group

Achievement in Sustainability Award: D S Smith

New Company of the Year award: SuperGroup

Best Technology Award: Renishaw

Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Richard Harpin, Homeserve

Company of the Year: Domino Printing Sciences  

Commenting on the awards, Mark Smith, regional chairman of PwC in the Midlands, said: “The PLC Awards recognise excellence against rigorous performance measures and it is great to have Midlands’ winners in two categories this year. In every case, the winners have proved their long-term success, professionalism and sound financing as the UK continues on the path to full economic recovery.”

For the latest AIM and FTSE news, plus the West Midlands risers and fallers, go to our Shares & Markets section. Click here

 

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