Hatfield businesswoman shortlisted for national award

AS the recession continues to bite, more and more people seem to be turning to self-employment as a means of finding work. And for one Hatfield woman the gamble has certainly paid off, after she was shortlisted for a national business award.

AS the recession continues to bite, more and more people seem to be turning to self-employment as a means of finding work.

And for one Hatfield woman the gamble has certainly paid off, after she was shortlisted for a national business award.

Aspects of Art, an arts and crafts teaching company started up by single mum Caroline Pendray-Lewis, has been named as one of the UK's top 100 businesses in the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards.

The awards honour men and women who are turning their lives around by choosing to start up their own business.

Mum-of-two Caroline started Aspects of Art, which offers creative workshops to schools, museums and the community, after she realised juggling childcare with trying to find work was impossible.

"I have a degree in art and design, but it was really hard to find employment," she said.

The 27-year-old set up her business in October 2007 with help from the Prince's Trust.

"They [the Prince's Trust] are amazing. They got me a business mentor, and they brought me back down to earth and kept me focused when my head was on cloud nine!"

This year's Trading Places finalists will be competing in several categories, and each category winner will receive �5,000 for their business from Barclays, and all national finalists will receive �2,000 worth of computer software from awards supporter Microsoft.

"I'd be so happy if I was to win," said Caroline, from Aldykes.

"It would be brilliant for my kids to see that anything's possible if you put your mind to it.