A YORK man who set up a media business after being unable to find work has won an award.

Chris Marsden, a former DJ, won Business Newcomer Of The Year in Pitman Training’s super achievers awards.

Judges Jacqueline Gold, chief executive of Ann Summers and Knickerbox, celebrity PA Josephine Green and The Apprentice finalist Claire Young, said Chris, 36, from Haxby, won thanks to his determination to find work after being made redundant, and his resourcefulness in setting himself up along a new career path.

Chris decided to set up Definitive Media, which helps local businesses with media guidance and marketing activity, after struggling to find work as a presenter or voiceover artist.

He said: “I love interacting with people on a personal level to help the businesses I work with maximise their results.

“Providing for my wife and children are my biggest motivations, but also helping local businesses survive, thrive and together come out of the recession smiling is something that drives me.

“I feel passionately about supporting others through this recession, as someone who has been made redundant and had to find a new career.

“I really find my new job very rewarding.”