A LEADING figure in a rural enterprise group who is heavily involved in supporting and lobbying for small ventures is a contender for a title in The Press Business Awards.

Carolyn Frank, who has entered the Business Personality of the Year category of the awards, worked internationally for large companies before buying her retail jewellery business in Helmsley in 2009 with her partner Andy.

She has a degree in international business with modern languages and speaks fluent Czech and German. She is known for her excellence in small business and community marketing, as well as being nationally recognised as a small business champion.

Her second career as a retailer was a steep learning curve, and from 2012 to 2014 she ran her parents’ business alongside her own.

This did not stop her from helping to found Helmsley in Business and getting stuck in to organising events and kick-starting activities.

She has motivated 60 local businesses to join the group, which has made a real impact both nationally and locally through fundraising, networking and winning numerous awards for Helmsley.

Miss Frank is currently chair of the group and has sub-committee responsibilities for marketing, social media and events.

She was recently appointed as a volunteer enterprise advisor with the Careers and Enterprise company, helping Ryedale School with careers, and linking schools with the wider business community.

Through the Federation of Small Businesses she has worked voluntarily on the national policy committee for rural affairs and tourism, contributing to reports on rural broadband and mobile connectivity, rural transport and women in business, and was recently appointed to the National Women in Enterprise taskforce.