A BUSINESSMAN who left school at 16 to join a YTS scheme has been named Young Entrepreneur of the Year after building up a £23 million firm.

Matthew Riley, 33, the chief executive of Daisy Communications Ltd, Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, was given the honour at Ernst and Young's northern region Entrepreneur of the Year awards in a ceremony at the Manchester Hilton on Monday.

Later this year, the company will go forward to the national judges, and a success there would mean a nomination to the World Entrepreneurial awards in Monte Carlo.

Mr Riley, of Barrowford, made his first million before he was 30 after setting up his first company, a recruitment agency, in Leeds 10 years ago.

Two other firms were set up and sold and Daisy was founded in 2001.

The company sells telephone, internet and other communications packages to businesses, and has more than 20,000 customers nationally.

It now employs 120 staff, and turnover is expected to reach more than £36 million this year. Jan Gregory, Ernst & Young's Manchester senior partner, said: "The judges described Matthew as a serial entrepreneur at only 33."

Mr Riley, whose entrepren-eurial spirit first came out at the age of 11 when he cleared snow-covered paths for cash on his street, said he was now using his experience to encourage more young business people.

He said: "I left Fisher-More High School in Colne with some GCSEs but to be honest they weren't anything to shout about.

"I didn't want to carry on with school-style education so I took a YTS place at FH Browns in Burnley and learned the trade there.

"I have done really well from taking on school-leavers now and giving them a chance to experience all the business.."

He added: "I am overwhel-med to have won this award."