MAINTENANCE man John Milner backed his daughter, Katie, when she decided to join his hobby at the time - a coaching holiday venture called Katie's Continental Holidays.

That was in 2000. Now Katie, who speaks fluent Spanish and German, has helped to generate £200,000 turnover for the Clifton-based company which has four part-time employees and claims to have carried more passengers to Europe than any other package coach tour operator in the York area.

The success of the business means that John has retired as a maintenance man with the College of York St John to partner his daughter full time in the venture, which organises holidays to Spain, Italy, Holland, Germany, France, Belgium and Ireland

Now Katie has been nominated as Business Personality of the Year and the company is also pitching for the Small Business of the Year title.

John said: "We are looking to expand our sporting holidays, such as Formula One Grand Prix."

Updated: 16:16 Monday, September 27, 2004