A 24-YEAR-OLD who struggled to enjoy her job after returning from travels abroad is now "living the dream" running her own business.

Caroline Todd, from Dalton, near Thirsk, runs social media consultancy Hot Toddi, working freelance with marketing agencies and local companies.

Having launched the venture on her 23rd birthday in April last year, Miss Todd is now entering the Press Business Awards as a candidate for Young Entrepreneur of the Year and New Business of the Year.

Miss Todd said: "After scrubbing my kitchen floor with frustration in early 2014, I should have been feeling full of beans and refreshed after an amazing trip to Australia.

"Instead I felt trapped and annoyed with work. So, with no thought or consideration for the future the next day I left my job, company car and bonuses to do....northing! Well, so I thought at the time but it had to be better than been miserable.

"I of course didn't do nothing, I went to lunch, had regular coffee dates and searched the internet for jobs with little success.

"I wasn't down spirited in fact I was very upbeat, but I didn't anticipate what would happen next after one of my coffee chats with an old colleague. "Deborah from Aer8 Marketing who had previously been the marketing consultant my old company worked with got in touch but little did I know she wanted my help, she was flooded with work and needed some extra support with marketing and social media.

"I soon came to realise that so did quite a lot of people in Deborah's position, and in April 2014 'Hot Toddi' was launched."

Miss Todd said it wasn't her intention to start a business so young, but she couldn't turn down a "perfectly good opportunity" when it grabbed her.

She said: "I fell into it but it seemed right and has done ever since.

"Work, as it does being freelance, comes from referrals which is excellent.

"I do sometime think what would I have done if Deborah didn't call but something tells me I would of had my own business anyway.

"My parents still to this day don't understand what I do but know I am happy so let me be.

"On a day to day in my business I do spend most of it on social media as that is what I specialise in, do admin, have meetings, but I always smile as I know I am living the dream that most 24-years-olds are not."