ALISON Welsh has won the title of County Durham's most enterprising student for a market research project to help a labelling company flourish.

Alison, 21, from Lanchester, fought off stiff competition from 15 other students on the county's 2002 STEP programme to win the award and a cheque for £150.

It was the successful conclusion of an eight-week spell with Cartmel Limited, a label application company set up by barcode specialists Briarsoft, in Consett.

She will now go forward to the regional final in Newcastle on September 24.

The sociology and social policy student at Newcastle University, said: "I am extremely surprised and pleased to win.

"I have gained a lot from STEP as I found it very different from other work experience I have done.

"The market research project I did involved putting a lot of different skills into practice and it was really rewarding to see the project taking shape."

Malcolm Marsh, managing director at Briarsoft, said: "Alison worked extremely hard and deserves this award.

"We diversified into labelling bags for takeaway meals and the business expanded so fast that we found it impossible to find the time for this project.

"Alison's efforts have given us a sound customer base so we can take the business to the next stage of development."

STEP is a programme that matches undergraduates with small and medium-sized businesses needing specific projects completed.

Now in its 16th year in County Durham, it is co-ordinated by the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency.