THE man who has transformed a Bedale-based enterprise agency in only four years retires today, reflecting on success stories among people who have set up their own small businesses.

The arrival of Ian Crowther as chief executive at the modest offices in Bridge Street in March 2000 coincided with a root-and-branch overhaul of the former Hambleton and Richmondshire business enterprise centre. Its style and focus changed radically, with improved marketing, greater partnership working with other agencies, more training and better contact with clients.

It also gained a new and more succinct name, Business Solutions Bedale.

When Mr Crowther arrived, the agency employed just three people, but now there are nine. One of his first moves in 2000 was to take the agency into the IT age by introducing computer training after which, he said, it never looked back.

The agency, founded in 1987, has owed its survival mainly to financial support from the two district councils.

Mr Crowther said: "We have had great support, so much so that some people thought we were part of the councils when, in reality, we are anything but. The councils' sponsorship is still vital to the agency, which is a non-profit organisation, and survival has always been uppermost in my mind as chief executive.

"A number of agencies in the country have not survived, for all sorts of reasons. Our main achievement is that we are still here."

Business Solutions Bedale was the first enterprise agency in the region to be awarded the ISO 9001/2000 standard, recognising its work with and for clients. The certificate was presented by Richmond MP William Hague.

Mr Crowther, a former economic development officer with local authorities in Scunthorpe and Lincolnshire, is proud of the agency's record in helping people new to the business world.

"We have been a sub-franchisee for Business Link York and North Yorkshire for two years and we have got the best record of positive outcomes of any organisation in the country in helping people on two Government schemes, the work-based Learning for Adults and New Deal, where people want to set up their own businesses.

"There is a 76pc achievement of people still in business and that is something everyone else in the country would like to achieve."

A Thirsk belly dancer helped by the agency stands out as unusual, but Mr Crowther said: "We have been instrumental in 225 new businesses starting up in Hambleton and Richmondshire and among those are some quite fascinating ones."

The agency has been heavily involved in schemes to encourage more women to set up in business - and has seen the number increase substantially - and to help those in their fifties to get loans for projects if no funding is available elsewhere.

A more recent development has been a successful bid to a promotional fund run by the Department of Trade and Industry for a scheme involving work experience for the life experienced. There were almost 400 applications to the fund and the agency scheme was one of only 22 approved.

Trixie Walker has been appointed co-ordinator for the scheme, which will bring together established small businesses and people with a similar aim who seek experience.

Christine Cooper has been appointed co-ordinator of a scheme designed to build confidence in people taking first steps towards business and, in areas covered by Objective 2 funding from Europe, Steve Smethurst is running an unusual initiative. He is helping more young people than ever to set up in business while still at school, working with them and their teachers.

Mr Crowther paid tribute to business mentors Malcolm McDougall and John Alcock, saying: "Without them we would not have weathered numerous storms."

Mr Crowther went to Bedale initially on a 12-month contract, which was followed by a three-year one. He said: "I had the option of renewing my contract but would not have done more than a year."

One of the factors which persuaded him to retire at 60 was a need to see more of his family, from whom he was separated by distance. He lived in a house at Bedale five days a week, facing a 175-mile return trip between there and his home at Barton-on-Humber, near Hull, at weekends. In retirement he will run a small consultancy business.

Mr Crowther said: "I think I have got the agency into the minds of people nationally. I wish it well and hope it grows as much again as it has in the last four years."

He is succeeded as chief executive by Alan Hayes