Paul Newbound

ONE man’s vision to provide a value-added pressure-testing service to the construction, resources and oil and gas industries, has led to the emergence of a leading Australian company poised to expand offshore.

The past year has been a whirlwind for businesses that have featured in the Rising Stars awards, with some rising to greater heights while others have faced major challenges.

It may seem cliched and hackneyed to sceptical consumers, but many of this year’s top entrepreneurs genuinely believe that quality service is the key to their business success.

APTS managing director Paul Newbound describes himself as a typical technician who decided to go into business.“I thought I knew how to run a business, but I didn’t,” he admits.

As Business News' Rising Stars search draws to a close, the founder of a contracting company that expanded through the GFC, but had a “disastrous” last financial year and more recently lost $1 million through its dealings with Forge Group, is pursuing growth again with a new strategy.