Publisher Alan Philipp has been given a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the directory and data publishing sector.

Mr Philipp, 66, is one of just three recipients of the award, handed out by the Data Publishers Association. Not bad for a man who started a business based on a hobby. He tells People: “A business school asked me to do their directory for them and then I started doing them for other business schools. It became a full-time job.” He founded AP Information Services in 1977, which he sold in 2008.

Mr Philipp, who lives in London, is also very involved with Jewish Charities. In 2009, he received a lifetime achievement award from Jewish Care. He is Treasurer of the British Friends of Hebrew University and sits on the board of the Anglo-Jewish Association.