Inspirational contribution by Dr Graham Honeyman CEO of Sheffield Forgemasters was recognized at the Institute of Directors' Director of the Year Awards.

Dr Honeyman took the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, held in front of an audience of several hundred of Yorkshire's business leaders at the Queen's Hotel in Leeds.

He helped return Sheffield Forgemasters to profit in just 6 months when he took over and within less than three years increased the business' turnover from GBP 35 million to GBP 100 million. Today, under his leadership, the company remains an internationally competitive business in a global market.

Dr Honeyman said that "From starting with a demoralized workforce, no existing management direction, enormous operational problems, many millions of pounds of debt and possible closure, the situation is now very different."

He added that "The success was borne out of the conviction that there was vast potential for a UK company carrying the inherent breadth of knowledge that SFIL has, to not only survive, but to excel in a global marketplace. This award not only belongs to me but to the dedicated and skilled team at Forgemasters that has worked hard to turn the company around."