Chris Houghton, eVenture

IT boss Chris Houghton is a man of many interests — he helps local charities, is a keen Bolton Wanderers supporter and he celebrates St George’s Day in style every year.

Every year, on April 23, he and fellow workers and friends dress up in full St George’s knight costume — including specially made chainmail, sword, shield, tabard, helmet, and he even has a leather drinking cup — and parade through the town centre.

In fact, he puts his money where his mouth is and gives all his staff a paid holiday every year as he conducts his own mini campaign to have the day made into a bank holiday.

His company, eVentura, started as a fledgling IT services and systems consultancy business.

It has evolved into to a fully accredited Microsoft, Sage and Dell business partner with clients in Britain, Europe, Scandinavia and the east and west coast of the USA.

But while he has worked hard building his business, he plays hard and regularly takes his staff out for a meal or buys them fish and chips on a Friday afternoon as a reward for working hard during the week.

A regular sponsor of the Wanderers Player of the Year awards, he is also active in local charities, recently becoming a super sponsor of Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

He started eVentura five years ago and now employs a staff of 20 and boasts a turnover of £1 million a year.

Mr Houghton said: “The company has grown steadily by approximately 20 per cent per year, with the majority of profits re-invested back into the business in the form of new equipment, systems and staff training and accreditation.”

For the future, eVentura will be looking at expanding its influence in countries like Poland and the Czech Republic as well as southern Europe.