Top International award for plumber

Phil Routhan, a 34 year old plumber from Hokitika, who in 1995 was New Zealand’s Young Executive of the Year, has now taken one of the top prizes at the international final in Ulster, Belfast.

Competing in the Worldcom World Young Business Achievers competition earlier this moth, Mr Routhan won the Management Excellence Award in which representatives from 22 countries took part.--“To win at a world final says it all,” says Mr Routhan.--“It doesn’t matter where you are from or what you do, you can still make it.”--He was presented with a gold clock set in crystal by Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew.

The business which Mr Routhan bought after completing his apprenticeship at the age of 19 has a staff of eight and a million dollar turnover.