A BUSINESSMAN from Burnley has won a national award for championing the cause of saving energy to cut the carbon footprint.

Ian Kelly, chief executive of Matrix, was named Ernst & Young Energy UK Cleantech and Renewables Entrepreneur of the Year.

Now in its 26th year globally, The award is held in more than 50 countries worldwide. Previous UK winners have included Dragons’ Den’s Hilary Devey.

And across the world, winners have included Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google; Ingvar Kamrad, IKEA; and Mikael Hed, creator of Angry Birds.

The awards, hosted by Kirsty Young and attended by Lord Young, enterprise advisor to the Prime Minister, were held at The Park Lane Hilton Hotel, London.

The independent judging panel, led by Lord Browne, partner of Riverstone Holdings and formerly chief executive of BP, said Ian had built a ‘fantastic pack of services’ to help clients reduce their carbon output.

They said: “He has secured major client wins with some of the biggest brands in Britain, achieving 27 per cent organic growth in 2011 and taking the business to £60m turnover.”

Ian, a former director of FH Brown, founded Matrix in 2009, providing big name retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Boots with a monitoring service to cut energy bills.

He said he was thrilled. “It was a huge honour to have been pitted against some of the UK’s most innovative green businesses, but, to win it, is overwhelming,” he said.

“When I launched Matrix, my ultimate aim was to create the UK’s leading carbon and energy management company.

“Three years later, our growth has surpassed all expectations and this award tops off what has been an incredible journey. This is a true reflection of the whole ‘team matrix’ ethic and recognition for every member of staff.”