A BUSINESS which started at the kitchen table with just £50 in the bank and now boasts seven figure turnover with regular year on year profits is hoping to impress the judges in the Small Business of the Year category.

Dodsworth the Plant Display People was founded in 1989 by husband and wife team Julie and Simon Dodsworth, and today employs a team 10 staff from their Boroughbridge premises.

The business provides a service of rented living plant displays to blue chip clients in hospitality , stadia and offices nationwide .

Reporting growth of around 15 per cent each year, the business counts among its customer portfolio Wembley Stadium, the Emirate Stadium, Liverpool FC, Aviva, and more than 500 top blue chip names, as well as hotel groups including Hilton, Marriotts, Crowne Plaza, and more than 125 four and five star hotels.

The business regularly picks up many high profile London contracts against fierce London competition.

Mr Dodsworth said: “Staff development is key to Dodsworth Ltd. Colleagues attend a minimum three year college apprenticeship, attend regular in-house weekly training and updates, and all members of the team spend time at the company’s expense in Holland studying new and creative ideas.

“A weekly team meeting with all the team in attendance. They run a no blame policy and share issue solving in a unique , positive and open format. Challenges are solved quickly giving the customer a seamless service.

“ The team train in waiting (there is a right way to wait patiently!), speaking, greeting, problem solving and all aspects of customer care.

“ Julies ideas on workforce training have attracted national event organisers to hear her speak. These include the national Wire conference, London Country living events and many more. Julie also shares her ideas in national columns she writes for those top magazines.

“Potential for future growth is an ongoing strategy for us.

“Most of all it is a family first ethos that supports the team, the local community and their families. A happy workforce equals happy customers.”

The business boasts a low turnover of staff, and takes on local apprentices, with a “local workforce grown from the local high school”.

Recent strategies for innovation have included an internal up cycling system creating a 100 per cent green product.