Chief Exec of Carter & Carter is the 2006 PLC Awards winner

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Businessman Phillip Carter, chief executive of Nottingham based firm Carter & Carter Group plc has been awarded the title of Entrepreneur of Year for 2006 at the PLC Awards ““ an event set-up to reward excellence in the smaller quoted company sector. The accolade comes just 12 months after the UKs largest training provider was awarded the title of New Company of the Year. Within the year, the company’s shares have quadrupled, giving it a market value in the region of £475m.

Carter & Carter has gone from strength to strength over the last year. A healthy growth in profits and three significant acquisitions in the vocational sector worth £23.4m, including: IMS (UK), NTP Ltd and Quantica Training. Not to mention its successful bid to deliver eight Train to Gain contracts in Learning & Skills Council (LSC) regions across the UK ““ demonstrating the strength of the organisation in the Adult Learning market.

Rodney Westhead, chairman of Carter & Carter Group plc commented: “I am absolutely delighted at Phil’s well deserved success as “Entrepreneur of the Year” which was undoubtedly due to his exceptional ability, foresight and leadership in the development of the Carter & Carter Group.

Rodney added: “We have made good progress under Phil’s direction and we have an exciting future ahead.”

On receiving the award, Phillip Carter said: “It is a great honour and one that I am very proud to accept, not only for myself but on behalf of all our learners, customers, stakeholders and our high achieving staff members within Carter & Carter Group plc.”

Mr Carter founded Carter & Carter in 1992, following a successful career in the sales, marketing and business development at ICI. Initially the company was focused in the UK accident repair market, which quickly spread to successful expansion into the US and Australia in 1996. In 2003 the business acquired EMTEC ““ moving it into the vocational sector where it is now the UK’s largest provider. Carter & Carter provides support services to 26 vehicle manufacturer brands and their dealership networks.

Today Carter & Carter is committed to expanding its operations, with particular emphasis on becoming number one in the vocational learning market. It has aligned its own strategy with that of the government, who has expressed a focus on enhancing skills of the nation with a particular focus on school leavers.

Who would be your Work Based Learning Entrepreneur of the year? Email: [email protected]