IT was a case of letting his work go to his head.

John Schofield, of RedBlack Software, arrived at work at The Innovation Centre at York Science Park sporting a vivid hairstyle. Don't laugh. It is already proving its weight in red, having earned the company one contract.

Jane Tyler, John's managing director, was hugely impressed by her Microsoft access developer's corporate-coloured red and black quiff. "He's like a permanent sandwich board man for the company, she said. The redblack bonce proved a conversation breaker between John and Matthew Foster, who he met in a pub.

Mr Foster, a director of Tyler Morgan, secured loan brokers of Easingwold., said to him: "RedBlack, eh? What do you do?" John: "I access databases". Mr Foster: "Great Scott! Here's my card." It resulted in a deal with RedBlack Software to link an access database to a postcode system - and a bonus for John because of his magnetic Mohican. "He deserves it," said Jane. She would love her three other staff to similarly display redblack tonsorial art, but, she says, the idea leaves most of them reddening only to the roots. Jane added: "I am trying to persuade Terry Doyle, our RedBlack finance director, to sport a redblack Mohican but the fact that he is also finance director of York City, whose colours are red and blue, leaves him with a dilemma."

But what about her? "I do have red highlights in my hair, which is naturally dark brown and that's as far as I'll go, but if John pulls three more clients I may just change my mind."

John, a 22-year-old bachelor who has worked for RedBlack Software for four years, said: "Now I'm hoping that my redblack Mohican will bring as much success for me when it comes to the girls as in business."

Updated: 09:16 Tuesday, July 22, 2003