Not only was it a successful Business Awards Derbyshire 2008 for Charles Conroy's company The Greenbank Group (UK), winning Business of the Year, it was also a good night for the man himself.

For Mr Conroy, who is managing director of the Swadlincote firm, picked up the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

He joined Greenbank in 1978 as an apprentice draughtsman and worked his way up, progressing to general manager in 1997. A year later, he led a management buyout and became the company's managing director, spearheading the company's diversification plans which saw it develop new technology which could improve the efficiency of coal-fired power stations.

Under his stewardship, the business has grown, with turnover doubling in the last two years.
The firm's profitability has also grown by 500 per cent.

He said: "Since the management buyout, the business has developed and surpassed all expectations particularly over the last two years.

"Needless to say, this made me try harder, just to not be proved wrong!

"Although the business has grown, which can be measured by improvement on the balance sheet, it is particularly touching that I have beenpresented with this award and I now have something tangible to show for my efforts."s it a successful Business Awards Derbyshire 2008 for Charles Conroy's company TheGreenbank Group (UK), winning Business of the Year, it was also a good night for the man himself.

GREENBANK'S POWER PLAY

The Business Awards Derbyshire 2008 brought together 17 finalists vying for seven titles. But the result that everyone at Pride Park Stadium on Friday wanted to know was who had won the most coveted title of all - Business of the Year.

Technology developed to help make coal-fired power stations become more efficient has helped a Swadlincote company fulfil a burning ambition - to win the Business of the Year award at the Business Awards Derbyshire 2008.

On Friday night at an awards ceremony at Pride Park Stadium organised by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber and co-hosted by theEvening Telegraph, The Greenbank Group (UK) came away with the top honour.

It was something of a double celebration for the Hartshorne Road firm's managing director, Charles Conroy, who was also namedEntrepreneur of the Year in front of an audience of 300 people.

Greenbank was founded in the 1950s. The firm has traditionally specialised in the design, application, manufacture and installation ofabrasive and chemical resistant products. However, since 2000 a new area of the business was initiated to design and supply newtechnologies that enhance and improve the operation and efficiency of coal-fired power stations.

It has since become a leader in the development of unique boiler optimisation and measurement techniques for coal-fired power stations.
Receiving the Business of the Year title from master of ceremonies, author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, Mr Conroy said: "To beawarded the title Business of the Year has surpassed our wildest expectations.

"Being nominated for this award reflects the continued development of the business and its employees over the last few years, which hasbeen fuelled by a consistent drive for organic growth, improvement and innovation, whereby, we strive to help the environment.
"The Business Awards Derbyshire and NatWest have not only brought great kudos to the nominees and winners, but also to that of Derbyshire and the East Midlands region as a whole."

GREENBANK TAKES THE DOUBLE AT AWARDS DO

A engineering firm saw double last night after scooping two awards at the Business Awards Derbyshire 2008 - including the coveted Business of the Year title.

Charles Conroy, managing director of the Greenbank Group (UK) also walked away with the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the presentation ceremony, which was held at Pride Park Stadium and hosted by author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth.

Greenbank, which was founded in the 1950s, has traditionally specialised in the design, application, manufacture and installation of abrasive and chemical resistant products.

Since 2000, the firm in Hartshorne Road, Swadlincote, has been designing and supplying technologies that enhance and improve theoperation and efficiency of coal-fired power stations.

Speaking last night, Mr Conroy, whose company won the Innovation Through Technology category at the same awards last year, said: "Thisaward reflects the continued development of the business and its employees over the last few years, which has been fuelled by a consistentdrive for organic growth, improvement and innovation whereby we strive to help the environment."

The awards ceremony, which was organised by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, and co-hosted by the Evening Telegraph, wasattended by more than 300 people.