A Winchester businessman has received recognition for his exceptional performance in staff recruitment.

The owner of Winchester and Southampton branches of Driver Hire, a driver employment agency, Ash Mustafa, received the accolade at Driver Hire's recent 40-year celebrations.

Mr Mustafa and his five-person team were awarded the 'Rose Bowl for Endeavour'.

Mr Mustafa credited his staff, he said: "Our success has been down to the team and their training.

"We haven’t lost a member of staff we have recruited, and our newest team member started two years ago.

"All our staff are dedicated, focused, and passionate about delivering great customer service, and they have all contributed significantly to our business growth."

Mr Mustafa initially invested in the Southampton franchise in 2019 and successfully navigated through the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Ash Mustafa accepting the award Ash Mustafa accepting the award (Image: Driver Hire)

He expanded his business by adding the Winchester branch in 2023.

Driver Hire's chief executive, Chris Chidley, commended Mr Mustafa and his team's business acumen.

Mr Chidley said: "Ash and his team have grown the business every year for the past five years.

"But it’s not just about sales, the team also engage in Driver Hire Group Services’ initiatives, for example: embracing the use of digital tools to maximise efficiency within the business."

Driver Hire, the UK's largest specialist provider, supplies temporary and permanent drivers to firms in both the public and private sectors.

When organisations are short of personnel due to factors like illness, holidays, or seasonal demand, Driver Hire delivers a competent replacement.

Mr Mustafa's strategic move to create a successful virtual territory in Winchester has propelled the business growth by bringing the office closer to clients and drivers in the region.