He is managing director of a Belfast newspaper and co-franchisee of contract cleaner Minster Services’ Northern Ireland area.

Now he and his business partner Helen Henderson have won Minster’s Franchisee Of The Year award for the second time in seven years.

Henderson takes care of the day-to-day running of the company, which employs 250 cleaners and has an annual turnover of more than £900, 000. Contracts include companies such as AXA, Securicor, Siemens, Mothercare and Top Shop.

Minster, which has 38 franchisees, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Recruits are needed in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster, Dublin, Durham, Jersey, Leicester, London, Norwich and Peterborough.