Otley tycoon wins business title (From Wharfedale Observer)

Otley tycoon wins business title

2:35pm Monday 15th October 2012 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Otley business tycoon Lawrence Tomlinson has won the prestigious Director of the Year Award.

The entrepreneur began his career in business in 1988, shortly after graduating from university, when he took out a bank loan to buy a care home.

Now ranked among the richest men in Britain, the chairman of the LNT group won his award from The Institute of Directors on Friday.

During the past two decades, he has built LNT into a diversified group of companies, employing more than 2,000 people, building and operating care homes. LNT’s interests also include software development and climate protection systems for transport networks.

LNT runs a share ownership scheme for employees, and has opened up board meetings to staff in each of its businesses. Mr Tomlinson believes this approach has created a motivated and engaged workforce across the group. He is also well known for his interest in racing, having bought British race-car manufacturer Ginetta in 2005, and is a winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race.

Congratulating Mr Tomlinson on his success, Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “The quality of entrants for our awards improves every year, and Lawrence had to beat very impressive competition to win the title.

“He has shown exceptional leadership in building up a hugely successful group of companies, and I am sure he will lead them on to even greater achievements in the future.”