A York publishing and promotions company scooped the top business award for sustainable development at the Yorkshire and the Humber regional finals of this year's Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur Awards.

Young entrepreneurs Andy Milson, 26, and Tom Sharp, 27, were presented with a cheque for £500, plus champagne, by Sally Martin, of Shell Oil Products, at an awards dinner in Leeds.

The regional Livewire competition, sponsored by both Shell UK and Yorkshire Forward, is designed to encourage young people aged between 16 and 30 to start up and develop their own businesses.

Stone Soup specialises in the publication of local guides and magazines as well as managing entertainment events across the region, including this year's first, and hugely successful, York Comedy Festival.

The business is also in its second year of managing Strung Out, a successful music competition which draws entries from throughout England.

Tom and Andy's keenness to encourage others to start their own ventures is reflected in their most recent publication, Flock Magazine, which presents enterprise to young people as a viable career option. Now there are plans to publish national titles. Tom, declaring his pride at winning the award, said: "Being involved with the Livewire awards has certainly boosted our confidence and given us the recognition we needed."

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, May 06, 2003