Mark Smith, chairman and founder of The Car Finance Company, has won the London and South EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2015.

He will now go forward to the UK finals in October where he will compete for the overall UK Entrepreneur of the Year title.

Smith said: “It is a real and lasting achievement that highlights the great work everyone here at The Car Finance Company is doing and I very much look forward to competing for the UK title.”

Smith fought off tough competition from the likes of Craig Donaldson and Vernon Hill at Metro Bank, Jarl Severn from Owen Mumford, Peter Digby of Xtrac and Andrew Page of CHP Consulting.

Steve Varley, the chairman and managing partner at UK&I, said: “EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year programme is not only a celebration of entrepreneurship, but also builds networks which span the world. It’s not only about winning an award – it’s about growing networks, making contacts and leveraging knowledge.”