YOUNG businesswoman Adele Smith was pipped at the post in her bid for a prestigious national award this week.

But the wedding stationery maker was already a winner after earning her place in the national final by taking the North West regional title in the Prince's Trust and Royal Bank of Scotland Business Awards.

Adele earned her place in the national final by demonstrating exceptional skills in customer acquisition, financial management, innovation and a willingness to 'go the extra mile'.

She was one of a dozen finalists from across the country vying for the national award, which was announced on Wednesday at a ceremony at St James's Palace, London, in the presence of Prince Charles

Adele, 27, had been working as an architect when she decided to form her own business with her husband Adam after making stationery for her own wedding.

She received help during the early stages from the Prince's Trust, which approved a £235 grant to help test the market for her eye-catching stationery, and assigned a business mentor, businessman Don Shore to offer long-term guidance.

Having established demand for her designs at bridal fairs, Adele secured a start-up grant from Business Link and set up business from home.

"It has been really hard work developing the business as well as keeping house and home, and we now provide foster care for a 13-year-old boy with behavioural difficulties - so there's never a spare moment to sit back and relax," she said.

"We were working through to night to complete orders and I also worked part-time to support the business and it's paid off."

Adele also paid tribute to her mentor Mr Shore, saying: "I simply could not have kept everything in perspective without his help."

She moved her business to the Farfield Mill arts and heritage centre in Sedbergh last November and is now busy with a full order book.

Plans are also in the pipeline to start trading on the Internet later this year and Adele also runs card-making classes and sell materials for people wanting to make their own stationery.

Mr Shore is full of praise for her efforts in making a success of her business.

" Adele is a very determined and positive woman, who has worked through some pretty difficult circumstances to set up her dream business," he said.

"She has put an enormous amount of effort into ensuring her business plan is sound and has tackled all the issues around setting up and running a business with imagination and tenacity - and she deserves full recognition of that."