Grimsby Telegraph deputy editor Nigel Lowther is leaving the paper to set up a media consultancy business.

He has set up his own limited company, Nigel Lowther Associates, and will advise local businesses on how to deal with the media and how to publicise their success stories.

He will leave the paper today after four years as deputy editor and 18 years working for Northcliffe.

Nigel told HoldtheFrontPage: “I will trade on my name and hopefully my reputation. I’ve been fortunate to have built up a wonderful list of contacts, the vast majority of which are also good friends, and I’m clearly going to utilise that.

“I think there is a big market, particularly around here.”

Nigel said there were “101 reasons” why he had decided to set up his own business – the main one being his family. He is also turning 40 next month.

He said: “I’ve always said that I would review my career at 40, where I am at and where I wanted to be, and that age is suddenly upon me!

“The Grimsby Telegraph and Northcliffe have looked after me very well and I’m very grateful. Without that I wouldn’t be able to even contemplate what I’m going to be doing from Monday.

“I’m 95 per cent excited and five per cent nervous. There is a huge comfort blanket involved with working for a big company and I’ve thought about this for a long time, but this is the right decision for myself and for my family.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

Nigel began his career with Grimsby and Scunthorpe Newspapers in 1988, as a trainee journalist, transferring to the sports desk in 1990.

In 1994 he switched back to news, becoming assistant news editor, and a year later became deputy news editor.

In 1998 he became the company’s new media manager and pioneered the introduction of the web across the region.

In 2002 he became assistant to the editor, a position he held until 2003 when he became deputy editor.

Two of the initiatives of which he is most proud is his role with Community Pride and Cleethorpes in Bloom.

He also worked on the Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr story which brought the paper national acclaim with a Press Gazette award for ‘team of the year’.