Glasgow retailer Ken Clark is flying high after scooping a top award.

Ken, who opened his CHIPS video games store in Glasgow’s West End in March 2006, had just won the CHIPS Newcomer of the Year Award.

The award tops off an exciting year for Ken, who married last October and opened his store in March.

Sponsored by CentreSoft, the award was presented to the 30-year-old at the 5th Annual CHIPS Conference, held at Ramside Hall, County Durham. Ken received a store plaque, an engraved trophy and £250 from Amar Mosaid, CentreSoft’s Sony Brand Manager.

The award was presented to the franchisee who, in the judges’ opinion, has shown the greatest level of commitment to the CHIPS’ network and brand and the highest level of enthusiasm for the franchise ethos, both within store and outside it.

CHIPS Glasgow West End, in Dumbarton Road, buys, sells and trades new and second-hand consoles, games, DVDs and accessories for all major platforms and retro.

This was the first CHIPS Annual Conference Ken has attended as last year he was on his honeymoon when it was held. Ken said: “I am delighted to have won this award. It really has been the icing on the cake of a fantastic year for me. I turned 30, got married, opened my store, discovered I was to become a father for the first time and now I have this award.

“I only opened my store in March and I am thoroughly enjoying the business and looking forward to a great Christmas and New Year.”

Ken, who lives five miles from his West End store on the south side of Glasgow, is CHIPS 20th franchisee and second to open in Scotland.

CHIPS Joint Managing Director Don McCabe said: “The Newcomer of the Year Award is open to all stores which have opened since January 2005 so Ken faced some tough competition. However, he deserved it as he projects a fantastic image for the company both inside and outside the store and works really hard to make his business a success.”

CHIPS Glasgow West End is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, Sunday, noon till 6pm and sells all the latest Playstation, X-box, GameCube and GameBoy consoles, games and accessories plus a host of PC, retro and second-hand products.

CHIPS, which is based in Borough Road, Middlesbrough, has ten company-owned stores including Middlesbrough, Redcar, Darlington, Northallerton & Sunderland, an award-winning e-commerce site, www.chipsworld.co.uk. and 20 franchise outlets across the UK.