Jane Broadfoot, Joe Yates and Sharon Ward

A FINANCIAL controller from Leeds-based design and communications agency, Logistik, has won the Young Enterprise Business Adviser of the Year nomination for the Yorkshire and Humber region, which is supported by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW).

Joe Yates from Logistik, won his award for providing business advice to students at Calderdale College in Halifax for their handmade cards, jewellery and candles business, ‘Special Touch Accessories'.

The YE Business Adviser of the Year award recognises the skills, time and understanding which volunteers bring to their involvement with schools and colleges and the students involved in Special Touch Accessories said that Joe's advice had made a really positive impact on their company.

Student managing director Mudassar Qasim said: "In particular, the visit Joe organised to Logistik's offices really helped us focus on how to define our roles and hold more professional and formal meetings. That in turn helped us work far more effectively as a team and to respect each other's roles as well as making effective progress in the actual meetings themselves."

Mr Yates said: "I am thrilled to win this award, and feel honoured that the students nominated me. I must mention my colleague Sharon Ward who worked with me on this project and without whose dedication and commitment we would have struggled to have the successes we have enjoyed.

"I have really enjoyed working with ‘Special Touch Accessories' and it has been great to see them all grow individually and as a team. I had a similar opportunity when I was younger and I wanted to ensure that these students also had a beneficial and rewarding experience. I would like to thank the students for their hard work and efforts to make ‘Special Touch Accessories' such a success."

Presenting the Award, ICAEW's Jane Broadfoot, senior business development Manager UK Regions, said;

"Joe really deserves this regional award. He has obviously inspired great confidence in the Special Touch team and support from business figures like Joe is vital in encouraging entrepreneurs amongst the young people in our region. The Institute of Chartered Accountants is fully committed to its support of Young Enterprise."

Joe will now go forward with the nine other regional winners for the national Young Enterprise Business Advisor award to be presented at the ICAEW Young Enterprise Celebration Awards by the Institute at the Park Lane Hotel in Piccadilly, London on 7 July 2008.

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