Mark Fordyce

As managing director of network provider and hosting firm York Data Services, Mr Fordyce is an active member within the business community holding board positions at Science City York and the Digital York Board for the City of York Council as well as the York Theatre Royal development committee and York & North Yorkshire Chamber Leadership Group.

Also a member of the York Merchant Adventurers, Mr Fordyce is a founding director of IXLeeds, the not-for-profit Leeds Internet Exchange and represents the region at European Internet events.

He is also a founding trustee for the Archbishop of Yorks charity Act435, which allows people to give money to those who have need.

Nominating him for Business Personality of the Year, fellow York Data Services director Kristian Jordan, said: "As a managing director Mark leads from the front with a ‘can-do’ approach.

"He Encourages those around them to contribute to the success of the business and to think outside the box when approaching a challenge.

"Mark is a networking legend amongst the business community raising the profile of the company.

"His main driver for his continual involvement in the wider business community is to help encourage a fair and level business environment, and a belief in ethical capitalism."

After leaving school at 15 with very few qualifications due to suffering from mild dyslexia Mr Fordyce now regularly talks at business events and schools about his personal journey, and has acted as a judge and keynote speaker for Young Enterprise North Yorkshire.