STAFF at York-based Mitrefinch are today celebrating the news that the company has won the Pay Awards 2001 Best Support Product or Service for the Payroll Industry category.

The glass trophy, awarded by Pay Magazine in National Payroll Week, was accepted by Andrew Stead, Mitrefinch's technical manager, at a glittering award ceremony hosted by entertainer Chris Barrie at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in London.

Mitrefinch, on the Green Lane Trading estate, Clifton Moor, developed the first computerised Time and Attendance "clocking in" system in 1979 and is also in the running in this year's Evening Press Business of the Year awards.

Its award-winning TMS system, for use on Microsoft Windows, was first introduced by Mitrefinch in 1996, with TMS Version 4 launched earlier this year, boasting payback for clients within 12 months.

Andrew Simpson, managing director of Mitrefinch, believes that the award confirms his firm as industry leader in the provision of time and attendance management solutions.

He said: "It is a recognition of the hard work and enthusiasm that everyone at Mitrefinch has put into the development of the TMS system. Our systems enable businesses to take greater control of costs and maximise efficiency."