Having been named the young entrepreneur for the North Region in June he was pitted against winners from other regions of the country who had shown enterprise at a young age.
Daisy is the 33-year-old’s fourth company, and last night’s award is recognition of a level of expansion that has seen the business become one of the fastest growing technology companies and Riley one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the North West, and now the UK. The company recently recorded a turnover of more than £23 million for the year ending March 2007.
He received the award in front of 800 entrepreneurs and their guests, and was one of 36 finalists to battle out the awards in nine different categories.
“To win the regional award in June was amazing, but to win the national award gives me an overwhelming sense of pride,” said Riley.
“The competition was very fierce in the ‘young’ category and I really do feel honoured to have won this accolade. I look forward to heading back up to Nelson and celebrating with my colleagues - without them this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Having left school at 16 to take up a YTS place as a trainee fax machine engineer, Riley has now spent a career spanning 17 years in the communications industry.
Daisy was established in his home town of Nelson in 2001 with just three employees. The company now operates from a 20,000sq ft state of the art office complex and employees more than 130 people and selling business communications solutions to businesses it is one of the UK’s leading independent companies for telephone, mobile, data and broadband.
Ernst & Young’s Manchester senior partner, Jan Gregory said: “The judges described Matthew as a great salesman, who has built a niche business, has good ideas and is continuously improving his business's offering and service. He has a thoughtful leadership style and invests in his people.
“The Entrepreneur of the Year programme recognises the determination, hard work and passion of entrepreneurs in over 40 countries on six continents. Our North West winners are shining examples of how entrepreneurial spirit can create world class businesses that make an enormous contribution to the local and UK economy.”