ROY Stanley nearly missed his big moment, but some sharp communications saved the day.

He was able to accept his prize in person after being chosen as the winner of the inaugural County Durham Business Show lifetime of achievement award.

The Northern Echo-sponsored award was presented to the County Durham entrepreneur, whose four businesses are combined under the banner of the Tanfield Group, at the event at the Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield on Friday night.

It could have been so different, if it had not been for the quick thinking of Pauline Hall, head of workforce development at The Learning and Skills Council, County Durham.

She put forward Mr Stanley's name for the award, and when she found out he had won she endeavoured to get him to the event.

Unfortunately, she was told he would be returning from a business trip to London on that day, and would miss the event.

However, when she rang him on his mobile phone on Friday night, he was at York station, heading for home.

Pauline told him he had won the award and he left the train at Darlington station and arrived at the ceremony in time to pick up the award from The Northern Echo's editor, Peter Barron.

Receiving the award, Mr Stanley said: "I feel this is a great commendation for all the people who work with me at The Tanfield Group and Comeleon. It is a tremendous honour to be regarded in this way."

He added that despite the success of The Tanfield Group, based in Tanfield Lea, near Stanley, there was still a lot he wanted to achieve and goals he wished to attain.

More than 150 of the county's top businessmen and women turned out to see Mr Stanley receive his award.

The entrepreneur has been responsible for creating more than 300 jobs in four companies since 1997, and aims to create more than 1,000 by the end of 2005.

His businesses include engineering businesses E2A and HMH, and digital imaging firm Comeleon Plc, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in December 2000. All three have since been recognised with the Investors in People standard.

His latest venture is JKI (JoeKnowsIt), which started trading eight months ago, developing a way of creating video streamed training material via the Internet. It already employs ten staff, and expects to have more than 50 employees within the next six months.

The four business now have a combined turnover in excess of £20m.

Guest speakers at the County Durham Business Show included BBC business commentator and former barrister Justin Urquart Stewart.

The after-dinner speaker was expedition leader Major Ken Hames.