TWO young entrepreneurs from Ryedale were honoured by the Prince's Trust for their success and determination at a awards ceremony.

Designer Melanie Morris and upholsterer Dan Loughran were among four finalists at the Oscars-style award ceremony, Celebrate Success, at The Deep in Hull last night.

They 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, said: "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.

"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 a field 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 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.

Dan, 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 DL Upholstery in Nunnington, near Helmsley, which has a three-month waiting list. 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 winner of the regional final was Iraq refugee Ahmed Mohammed, who owns Diedar barber shop in Hull.

For further information on The Prince's Trust phone 0800 842 842.

Last year, the Prince's Trust also helped nearly 250 of the 2,000 young people living in York who are not in employment, education or training start businesses, find jobs or start college or training courses.

Three finalists and a service from York attended the ceremony in recognition of their achievements working with the trust.

Carla Buckle, from Heworth, York, was shortlisted for the Young Achiever of the Year award. Unemployed, she joined the Prince's Trust Team Programme.

The 12-week personal development programme gave her confidence and new skills and she now works for Connexions as a full-time mentor giving guidance and advice to other young people. Carla, 20, said: "I came from a position of unemployment and, hopefully, I can help others who are in the same shoes as I was."

Carla was supported by Rob Dewhurst, who was nominated for the Leadership Award.

Rob said: "It's good to be rewarded, but really it's seeing the improvement in the young people you work with, seeing them come through."

The team programme develops the motivation and skills of 16-25 year olds through community projects such as garden regeneration work.

Guidance Services, which helps deliver the programme in York, was shortlisted for an award recognising the support of partner organisations.

The fourth nominee Jan Drinkall, a fundraising volunteer, was shortlisted for the Mentor/Volunteer of the Year award.

Jan has helped raise more than half a million pounds for the Prince's Trust through fundraising events including a clay pigeon shoot, Ascot dinner and Orient Express trip.

Jan said: "I retired five years ago and when I was an employer we employed a lot of young people, so I know they can make a valuable contribution to society. The Prince's Trust gives disadvantaged young people the same opportunity. In my mind they're our future."

Updated: 11:02 Friday, October 28, 2005