BILLIONAIRE tycoon Sir Philip Green will be giving a Nelson company a business masterclass after it scooped a national accolade.

Daisy Communications has won the Sunday Times Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Challenge.

The prize is the expertise of Sir Philip - the man behind many of the Britain's biggest stores, including Topshop, BHS and Burtons - over four days of mentoring.

Daisy had already won a £5m interest-free war chest after winning the northern heat last month.

Boss Matthew Riley, 33, who earlier this year was named young entrepreneur of the year, has built up the £23m firm, based on the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, selling telephone, internet and other communications packages.

Daisy Communications, which was named in Deloitte's Fast 50 chart having increased its turnover by a staggering 8,021 per cent over the last five years, plans to use its £5m regional prize to finance two further acquisitions, adding an estimated £9m of annual revenue to the business.

And Mr Riley, of Barrowford, who left school at 16 to join a YTS scheme, said he was delighted to have the opportunity to draw on Sir Philip's expertise.

He said: "This is a huge success for all our employees and everyone at the company.

"To be recognised by Sir Philip Green as a company he wants to back is testament to all their hard work.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge, though after the panel day, the really hard work starts tomorrow.

"The experience, time and contacts book of Sir Phillip Green is something that money just can't buy."

Sir Philip said: "Daisy Communications showed a true entrepreneurial spirit, and they just edged it.

"They are a comparative minnow in a very big marketplace and finding a true entrepreneur in that industry was very appealing.

"They displayed fleet of foot and a real insight into their market's dynamics."

Daisy beat Parkfresh, Iris Worldwide, Tyrrells Potato Chips, and Drivetech to the prize after a going through a rigorous round of interviews by a panel of industry experts, which included chief executive of Bank of Scotland Corporate Peter Cummings, Sir Philip Green, Cahal Dowds, a partner at Deloitte, and Sunday Times Business Editor John Waples.