AN award-winning glass designer has set up her own business.

Joanne Mitchell, from Tudhoe, near Spennymoor, south Durham, received guidance through the North East Business and Innovation Centre corporate ventures programme.

Based at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland, the young entrepreneur designed the trophies for the recent Creative North-East Awards.

Her creations were awarded to the likes of Anthony Gormley's Angel of the North and Gateshead's Millennium Bridge, by television star Neil Morrissey, before a star-studded audience at the Baltic arts complex in Gateshead.

Ms Mitchell, 25, spent a year of her MA course with Edinburgh Crystal, plus an extra year as an in-house designer, before being offered a permanent post.

However, she was determined to return to her native North-East to create and sell her own brand of contemporary glassware.

She attended the ten-week corporate ventures course, based at the Sunderland Enterprise Park, off Wessington Way.

The course helped to teach her basic skills, such as invoicing, contracts and preparing a business plan.

With the help of the business plan she attracted a £1,000 grant from Northern Arts and secured a loan of £2,300 from the Prince's Trust.

Ms Mitchell has since had her work showcased in House and Garden magazine.

She is currently exhibiting at Gateshead Quay Visitor Centre.

The designer has also been picked to exhibit at the Christmas exhibition staged by the Shipley Art Gallery, in Gateshead.

She said: "The corporate ventures programme was practical and literally got me on to a sound footing.

"It is for anyone of any age with any venture they want to make into a good business."

Any would-be en entrepreneurs seeking further information about the programme can contact Audrey Watt, at the Business and Innovation Centreon 0191-516 6145.