A computer boffin who founded a multi-million pound IT company from his bedroom said he had to ‘pinch himself’ after being named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours recognised several Greater Manchester residents for their services to businesses, youngsters and the Indian community.
Scott Fletcher, 40, from Hale, was awarded an MBE for services to business and the community in the North West.
Mr Fletcher founded ANS Group – a Cloud technology and IT services company – from his bedroom in 1996 at the age of 22, the company now having a turnover of £44 million.
He told MM: “I had to pinch myself – it was a complete shock, and I wondered if it was a wind up.
“I told my mum, and she burst into tears.”
As a champion of on-the-job training in the IT industry, he runs an apprenticeship programme within ANS Group for young people.
The launch of the ANS Cloud Academy is intended to provide jobs with training in key skills for around 60 apprentices over the next two years.
He is also involved with the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and the University of Manchester’s innovation and technology company UMI3.
As for the future, he said he would continue to work to provide effective apprenticeships for young people in the North West.
“I aim to get them to be employable, to get them the sort of job they want,” he said.
An MBE was also awarded to Gary Buxton, 36, from Droylsden, for services to young people in England.
Mr Buxton set up the Young Advisers (YA) charity in 2007, which now has 40 teams across England and employs 1,300 young people.
It involves over 10,000 under-represented and disadvantaged young people in their communities each month, improving their skills and employability.
The charity now has a turnover of around £2million per year, and as chief executive Mr Buxton has established a YA franchise in the USA.
Mr Buxton told MM: “I’m genuinely totally chuffed and incredibly surprised.
“I’ve worked very hard over the last few years, so it feels very nice to have that recognised and celebrated.”
Speaking about his ambitions for the future, he said: “We want to have young advisers in every local authority, so that would mean 250 teams.
“The difference that would make, in the first instance, would be to the young people who become young advisers, making a difference as community consultants.
“That would also make a significant difference to the young people and the wider communities using them.”
Hari Seth, 82, from Northenden, has been given the British Empire Medal for services to the Indian community through the Indian Senior Citizens’ Centre in Manchester.
Mr Seth has served Manchester’s Indian community for 45 years, founding the Indian Senior Citizens’ Centre (ISCC) in 1983.
The ISCC is a day centre dedicated to providing adult social care to the elderly and disabled members of the community.
Currently 360 people from Bury, Rochdale, Salford and Trafford enjoy the catering, travel excursions and other social benefits the centre puts on.
He also has roles in the Indian Religious and Charitable Trust in Manchester and the New Hope for Africa UK charity.
“I’m very, very delighted about this,” he said.
“Having worked on [the ISCC] for over 30 years for elderly people, especially in the Indian community, I am very proud.”
Image courtesy of Growth Accelerator, via YouTube, witht thanks.