Prince's Trust honour for young achievers (From Gazette & Herald)

Prince's Trust honour for young achievers

Two young business people from Ryedale will be honoured by the Prince's Trust for their success and determination at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday, October 27.

Melanie Morris and Daniel Loughran are two success stories, helped by the trust to set up their own businesses from scratch in rural areas.

Melanie, 28, who has been running Competitive Edge Design in Malton for the past three years, is delighted.

"The Prince's Trust backed my business idea at a time when no-one else would, as setting up a technology based business in a rural area was seen as risky," she said.

"However, I strongly believed that with modern technology, broadband and the internet there was no reason for me not to succeed.

''In fact with a lower cost of living than in the cities I felt there could be real benefits in providing good quality design work at fair prices to both local businesses and those in the cities.

''This belief is something which has been proved as we now have clients from as far afield as London in the south, to Aberdeen in the north." She started out in a corner of her brother's living room, and with a grant to help to pay for her computer and a 1,500 low interest loan, she was able to persuade the bank to back her venture and got her company off the ground.

Daniel, 30, is a qualified and experienced upholsterer, and in 2003 he decided that self-employment was his only option due to the lack of local employment opportunities.

Two years on, he runs the successful D L Upholstery in Nunnington, and currently has a three-month waiting list.

"Obviously, it's a great thing to have an award, it's reassuring to know all this hard work and effort starting up my own business is worth something in somebody's eyes and it spurs me on to achieve even more," he said.

"The Prince's Trust has been invaluable to me in getting a plan and a business mentor. It's given me the help I needed and without that I don't think I could have got started up."

The Oscars-style award ceremony, Celebrate Success, will take place at The Deep in Hull, and Melanie and Dan will compete against others from 11 Prince's Trust regional and country awards for a place on the shortlist for the UK finals.

The overall winners will be revealed at the prestigious Prince's Trust & RBS Celebrate Success Awards ceremony in London in spring 2006.

Peter Branson, regional director of The Prince's Trust in Yorkshire and The Humber, said: "We are often surrounded by quite negative images of young people, but these awards highlight the success of young people from Yorkshire and The Humber, and their positive participation in the community.

''This event is about celebrating the incredible strength and determination that the young people involved have shown, and the impact Trust volunteers and staff have on young people's lives."

For further information on The Prince's Trust call 0800 842 842 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk

Updated: 16:26 Thursday, October 27, 2005