P4M

His P4M which has a separate, but sometimes linked, arm of theatre and production, is becoming so successful that it is pitching for both the Small Business Of The Year and Best Business And Education Link categories in The Press Business Awards 2007.

Stephen, who bases the business at his home in Oakland Avenue, Stockton Lane, York, trained as a registered general nurse in York and after qualifying, became a staff nurse in paediatrics for a year before undertaking the registered sick children's nurse course at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

His business combined his knowledge within health, education and social care with his lifelong interest in drama.

Within the first three months of starting his venture in April last year, he obtained a number of contracts with national charities, local authorities and education to provide specialist training and consultancy, offering child protection training and coaching in business planning, strategic development and performance coaching.

He and his performers have visited schools all over the UK, instilling confidence into special groups of pupils, such as those who in every spare moment are carers for disabled parents, or the children of alcoholics or drug addicts.

With a turnover of £50,000 in its first year, P4M has grown to three staff plus 12 freelance actors and stage technicians.

This year they also reached 18,000 young people in schools, colleges and theatres with their production, followed by a tour, of the play by US playwright, James Still, called "And then they came for me - remembering the world of Anne Frank."