A BUSINESSMAN who has balanced entrepreneurial flair with selfless charity was named Business Person of the Year at the seventh Trinity Mirror Cheshire Business Awards. The category was sponsored by Bank of America.

Andrew Donaldson, founder of the BiG Storage company, is admired and respected as one of the pillars of the Chester community.

On receiving his award he said: “I am over the moon. You never think you will get to win something like this. There is nothing better than someone else saying you are doing a good job. It is great to be rewarded by your peers.”

He added: “If you find something you are happy doing and you enjoy doing it and are able to earn a buck, that’s as good as it gets.”

Asked by event host, ITV news presenter Lucy Meacock about his business philosophy, he said: “Treat people how you would expect to be treated yourself, then you can take as many people as you can along with you in your success.”

This year BiG Storage was an official partner of Rhino Mania in Chester, using the hugely popular art project to raise money for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

BiG Storage was set up in 1991 after Andrew was granted a £2,000 loan from The Prince’s Trust which he used to set up a warehouse fit out company in Crewe. Active Supply and Design (CDM) Limited became one of the most successful businesses in the Royal scheme’s 25-year history.

“The Prince’s Trust gave me the morals and principles of investing in other people just as they believed in me when no-one else would,” he said. “Money cannot buy belief: belief is not for sale.”

Andrew brought his innovative warehouse to Sealand Road, Chester in 2005.

A second facility was opened in Macclesfield in the summer of 2006 and was followed by sites in Lancaster and Morecambe later that year and more have followed.

In 2007, financially struggling Chester Jets were at the point of closure when BiG Storage stepped in with a sponsorship deal to save the city’s otherwise successful basketball club.

Big Storage also backs The Warrington Wolves Foundation and new Warrington Wolves basketball team.

It is a leading supporter of Chester FC and sponsor of the team’s community programme.

Andrew also supports The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, MS Support Centre, Save The Family, Youth Federation and backs The Crimestoppers charity.