Kath Old worked in a hospital operating theatre when she decided that a major career change was on the cards.

Now, with the help of expert business advice, the Billingham woman is running her own beauty, cake and greetings card business.

Kath sought help from the University of Teesside's Business School which runs a programme called the New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES).

The programme runs twice a year for 16 weeks and helps people turn viable business ideas into reality.

Kath said: "I had been in nursing for a long time and was looking for a complete change.

"The cake-making had been a hobby for years, but when I heard about the NES programme I decided to look into it."

Kath had worked as a staff nurse for 20 years, but was seeking a career change to combine her interests in beauty and making cakes.

Along with beauty treatments including waxing, facials, nails and make-up, Kath also plans to develop her business to offer treatments such as Botox.

She said: "I don't think I would have had the confidence to set up in business without the NES course. I've had so much support from the lecturers and also the students on the course all really support each other too."

Applicants for the forthcoming NES programme, which is due to start later this month, should contact Karen Cargill, New Ventures Programmes Co-ordinator at the university on (01642) 342806 or email k.cargill@tees.ac.uk.

Details are also available online at www.tees.ac.uk/sections/business/Entrepreneur.cfm.