James Norvill is top entrepreneur in Wales

At a recent ceremony in Cardiff James Norvill, Director of GD Environmental Services, was named as Welsh Entrepreneur of the Year by the British Chamber of Commerce.

At a recent ceremony in Cardiff James Norvill was named as Welsh Entrepreneur of the Year by the British Chamber of Commerce.

The award was presented by Peter Hain MP, Secretary of State for Wales who commented "To grow the Welsh economy we need more entrepreneurs of this calibre, whose enterprising spirit should be an inspiration for others to follow".

James Norvill has been in business since his early teens but it is since he became Director of GD Environmental Services .

at the age of 23 that his trading talents have fully matured.

He almost tripled the company's turnover in 2004, his first full year's trading, and confidently predicts another very sharp increase this year with a realistic projected figure of £2.4m.

These remarkable results have been achieved by ploughing back profits of £3/4m into the expansion of the business and James intends to continue this policy of reinvestment, aiming for a turnover of £6m by 2009.

The company's core business is in waste management but James has expanded GD's activities into many allied specialist fields such as drain services, skip hire, asbestos disposal and tank cleaning: ever on the outlook for niche service markets.

Although his entrepreneurial skills are very evident, James would quote the work ethic as being the major cause of success.

"If you want something enough and are willing to work long hours to get it, all things are possible" he says.

He is also a great motivator and is quick to praise those around him who share his enthusiasm, commitment and drive.

GD is working in a rapidly expanding sector as waste management and recycling become ever more important.

The next major project is to establish a major waste transfer and recycling station at an estimated cost of £1.5m.

James Norvill now goes forward to represent Wales in the National Finals of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which will be held at the Royal Naval College Greenwich in November.

If force of personality and determination are anything to go by, he must be among the favourites!.

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