STUART FINCH, managing director of Ryder Systems, was delighted and surprised that his company scooped the award for Innovation and Design.

Ryder Systems, which began life in a rented room in Burnley, has since emerged as the European leader in providing bill management solutions to telecommunication operators.

Now based at Daisyfield Business Centre in Blackburn, they have expanded their customer base into seven European countries and are now looking at new markets in Asia and North America.

Ryder's bill management software allows users to analyse and manage their telephone expenditure, voice calls, data activity and mobile traffic.

In the past 12 months alone their software has been installed by leading industry names such as Vodafone UK, Ireland and Sweden, T-Mobile and Orange.

Stuart said he was delighted because the company was being recognised in East Lancashire but also surprised because their business customers are worldwide and based outside the region.

He said: "We are a very technology-based business. We are delighted to win but are surprised because we do not do business locally.

"Our business is multi-national so our profile locally is diminished as a consequence.

"But it is very nice for us to be recognised in East Lancashire, for the staff.

"It will also help the name of Ryder Systems to get known in East Lancashire so that we are able to recruit locally.

"Our staff share the vision we have to move us forward."