Burnley IT firm boss named North West Entrepreneur of the Year

9:30pm Sunday 20th November 2011 in Hapton Photograph of the Author By Jonathon Dillon, Assistant news editor

ACCOLADE Steve Ackers ACCOLADE Steve Ackers

THE boss of Burnley-based IT specialist Lanway is celebrating after being named North West Technology Entrepreneur of the Year.

Steve Ackers, who founded the company in 1987, was honoured for his contribution to the region's technology industry at the 10th annual awards.

He was recognised for transforming Lanway from a product-focused reseller to a highly sophisticated consultative organisation dedicated to providing complete infrastructure solutions.

Previous winners have included Matthew Riley, CEO of communications giant Daisy Group, based in Nelson, and Anthony Preston, who founded Pets at Home.

Mr Ackers said: “I’ve been in business since the age of 17 and, in terms of personal accolades, this is the most prestigious thing I’ve won during that time.

"I never expected to win the award because I was up against so many great people in the industry.

“The IT industry is very dynamic and because of the speed at which technology evolves it’s necessary we have the understanding, the capability and hunger to embrace the change.

“We have completely reengineered Lanway over the last 18 months, transforming the firm from a one-stop shop for hardware into a highly sophisticated provider of complete IT solutions.

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"We have the technical capability and ability to understand what the customer is after, which means we can compete with any of the bigger city firms.

"Like technology itself, we have had to move with the times and it's that kind of challenge which keeps me hungry and sets Lanway apart.”

Lanway was founded in 1987 as an IT solutions company concentrating on retail and small businesses.

It is based on the Network 65 business park in Hapton.

Comments (6)

9:40pm Sun 20 Nov 11

Dickiepayshey says...

Good luck to them.
They've come a long way from selling me a Commodore 64. :-)
Good luck to them. They've come a long way from selling me a Commodore 64. :-) Dickiepayshey

10:39pm Sun 20 Nov 11

Graham Hartley says...

Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know.
Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know. Graham Hartley

8:23am Mon 21 Nov 11

DaveBurnley says...

Graham Hartley wrote:
Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know.
Typing one handed again Graham?
[quote][p][bold]Graham Hartley[/bold] wrote: Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know.[/p][/quote]Typing one handed again Graham? DaveBurnley

12:43pm Mon 21 Nov 11

bikerjohn_uk says...

You'd think, being the big business brain that he is, that he'd employ people who know what they're doing instead of lazy feckless idiots that seem to make up the bulk of his workforce. I wouldn't use Lanway if you paid me.
You'd think, being the big business brain that he is, that he'd employ people who know what they're doing instead of lazy feckless idiots that seem to make up the bulk of his workforce. I wouldn't use Lanway if you paid me. bikerjohn_uk

5:12pm Mon 21 Nov 11

Graham Hartley says...

DaveBurnley wrote:
Graham Hartley wrote:
Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know.
Typing one handed again Graham?
Indeed; I find the skill of one-hand typing occasionally useful. Consider, perhaps my remark part of that rivalry between the two towns at opposite ends of the syncline. Yet the recent reports of poor education in Burnley indicate that Mr Ackers will find difficulty in employing great numbers of the local youth as his ambition grows. If it's pertinent to ask, how many of the workforce received schooling in Burnley?
[quote][p][bold]DaveBurnley[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Graham Hartley[/bold] wrote: Based in Burnley... which tells the rest of us all that we need to know.[/p][/quote]Typing one handed again Graham?[/p][/quote]Indeed; I find the skill of one-hand typing occasionally useful. Consider, perhaps my remark part of that rivalry between the two towns at opposite ends of the syncline. Yet the recent reports of poor education in Burnley indicate that Mr Ackers will find difficulty in employing great numbers of the local youth as his ambition grows. If it's pertinent to ask, how many of the workforce received schooling in Burnley? Graham Hartley

1:14pm Tue 22 Nov 11

Darren Reynolds says...

Well done, Steve. Here you are, twenty years later and still going strong. I wouldn't have believed you'd survive back then and was wrong.
Well done, Steve. Here you are, twenty years later and still going strong. I wouldn't have believed you'd survive back then and was wrong. Darren Reynolds

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