A MAN who had the courage to launch his own company at the age of 53 walked off with The Northern Echo's Newcomer to Business Award last night.

Robert Hardman, of All Events Security, received his award from Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, in front of more than 350 businessmen and women at a glittering event last night.

They were attending the sixth annual Tees Valley Business Show, held at the Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm, near Stockton.

The Newcomer to Business Award replaced The Northern Echo's Lifetime of Achievement Award, which last year was presented to Middlesbrough Football Club chairman Steve Gibson.

Speakers at the show included Sir John Banham, chairman of Whitbread plc and ECI Ventures, and Joe Docherty, chief executive of the Tees Valley Urban Regeneration Company.

Mr Hardman was previously head steward at Darlington Football Club before establishing All Events Security in Barton Street, Darlington, in May 2001.

The business provides stewards for all types of large events. It employs two full-time staff, but takes on up to 100 casual staff as and when required.

The company has provided security for the Orange Darlington Festival and the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot race meeting.

Recommending Mr Hardman for the award, the judges said: "Mr Hardman's business has grown and developed at a significant rate.

"He and his team have provided security at high profile international events and it has already secured a number of national contracts for 2003."

They added: "Robert is building his business on reputation and quality of service, he is committed to training all his staff and he is an advocate for non-confrontational methods of protecting the public.

"As a result All Events Security deserves a long and fruitful future."

The award was the second Mr Hardman has received this year. In July, he was presented with the New Business of the Year award at Darlington Business Venture's ceremony.

* Judges of the award, who were also sponsors of the event, were: Craig Ramsay, of the Bank of Scotland; Keith Robinson, of Keith Robinson and Co; Robin Bloom, from Dickinson Dees; Hilary Dunne, marketing manager at the Business Show's organisers, Enterprise Event Management; and Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo.

Associate sponsors of the Tees Valley Business Show also included regional development agency One NorthEast, NatWest and the University of Northumbria.