DAMIAN Cole (pictured) has been Welsh Tarmac Rally Champion since 2000.

And when not piloting his Toyota Celica around the stages, he's working on developing the corporate market for his Get Connected (www.getconected.co.uk) mobile phone company.

Formed in 1997 after trading from his home, Mr Cole opened his first retail store in Blackwood.

He now trades from 15 stores throughout Wales, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

The company operates from a head office in Abergavenny where it employs 34 people.

This year's turnover should be around £4 million, and 25 per cent of this comes from the corporate market.

Mr Cole said: "Running a business is a challenge, but I still get the same buzz as when I opened my first outlet."

The company is currently connecting between 800 and 1,000 new phones every month on Orange and the O2 networks.

"Get Connected is all about making mobile phones and their tariffs simple and easy to understand, providing the best service and tailoring packages to individuals in the corporate or private sector."

The firm has relied on Barclays for its financial arrangements.

Rob Reid, Barclays relationship manager, said: "Get Connected is a great example of how entrepreneurial creativity can be converted into a highly successful business.

"As the business has grown so has its demand for financial technology, using electronic payment systems via Barclays Businessmaster to assist with the company payroll and to monitor the financial position at the touch of a button."