Doug Scott CBE, 66, was born in Nottingham, but began his lifelong love of climbing at the age of 12 by tackling the rockfaces of the Peak District, where he now lives at Winster.

He holds the distinction of being the first Briton to climb Mount Everest, which he achieved with Dougal Haston, in 1975.

Two years later, Doug suffered an accident in the Karakoram Mountains, in Pakistan. He broke both legs and had to crawl back to his base camp over eight excruciating days.

He said: "I spend much of my time these days raising money for health and education in Nepal. If it wasn't for Nepalese Sherpas carrying supplies and equipment for our expeditions, climbers like me would never have been able to achieve what we have done."

Emma Harrison, who lives at Thornbridge Hall, Great Longstone, was born in Essex, but she moved to Sheffield at an early age and there attended a local comprehensive school, where she showed entrepreneurial flair by running her own tuck shop.

Determined to become an engineer, despite pressure to go into a 'more seemly' career for a woman, she gained an Ordinary National Diploma in Engineering. She then landed a degree place at the University of Bradford and the sponsorship to do it from British Steel in one day, simply by talking the institutions into accepting her.

In 1986, Emma founded business skills and training agency A4e, also with the aim of providing opportunities for people who formerly worked in Sheffield's steel industry.

A4e has been transformed from regional training provider to international multi-award winning company.

Emma has also set-up business enterprise Novantia, which imports Pearl Mountain Coffee from India. Part of its profits are used to channel investment into several schools in the southern region of Karnataka.

She is Chairman of the NSPCC Regions Full Stop Appeal.