AFTER all the risk taking and emotional turbulence, the struggle to raise capital and the careful networking, David Horner & Co, York-based business recovery and insolvency specialist, is not only up and running but pitching for the title of New Business of the Year in the Evening Press Business Awards.

Becoming a sole trader was a big wrench for David Horner, after previously working in Leeds for 18 months and then in partnership in York. As he says: "Who wants to talk to - and be seen to be talking to - an insolvency practitioner?"

But putting his family home at risk - something he vowed he would never do for his children's sake - he launched the new venture at Fishergate, and it was so successful that he moved to Pioneer Business Park at Clifton Moor where he now has a staff of six. They have convinced the work referrers - local professionals - to refer vulnerable and stressed clients to them by concentrating exclusively on business recovery and insolvency.

It was decided to maintain independence and not to branch out into accountancy to support their income. David says: "How could we expect local professionals to trust us and refer their clients to us if once we had put together a rescue package, we then relieved them of their client and took their annual fee?"