York and North Yorkshire's Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards seek to reward the tenacity and enthusiasm of young business people in the area. CATHERINE BRUCE speaks to the winners about their determination to succeed

HEDGEHOG houses, bird tables and wishing wells have helped make Scenecraft UK an early success story.

Started in January, 2003, by Rosie Ellis, 23, and Matt East, 24, both entertainment design craft graduates from Teeside University, the business has gone from strength to strength.

The pair's ambition is to make their living producing scenery, costumes and props for museums, theatres, themed bars, film and television. But they quickly realised they would need something to bring in a steady income so the idea of producing handmade and unique garden products was born.

Rosie said: "It was difficult to get work in the industry as a freelance designer so we decided to set up our own business. But securing regular work is hard.

"We needed a bread and butter job and that was what led us to make the garden stuff."

The business started with modest roots in Strensall. Rosie and Matt sold their wares at farmers markets, but demand for their products, which include ornamental mushrooms, water features and bird feeders, was so great they moved to bigger premises in Easingwold Business Park in February. The duo have even had to recruit a freelancer to help handle the workload, and say they may need to take on more staff in the future.

Now they are preparing to tour 22 of Britain's biggest garden shows between April and September. They will be at Harrogate Spring Flower Show from April 22 to 25 and Harrogate Autumn Flower Show from September 10 to 12.

The business has also just launched its own website, www.scenecraft.co.uk, and customers can now buy the products by email or phone.

There is also increasing demand for scenery and sets to be built and designed by the team.

Rosie said the two sides of the business complemented each other well.

The pair impressed the judges at the York and North Yorkshire final of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards on Friday, March 12. They scooped the top prize of £1,000, which they intend to plough back into the company, and they are off to the regional final at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on April 19.

"The judges said we won because we were attempting a lot and really going for it. We don't use middlemen, we design and hand-make all our products and we sell directly to the customer," she said.

When they go to garden shows, they pack all their products up themselves in a van, which they bought with a £5,000 Growing Roots grant, funded by Yorkshire Forward, and drive to the event.

And there are no limits as to what products they will make and sell. Requests have ranged from homes for toads and dog memorials to nativity sets for gardens.

The firm has also said it would make larger garden pieces, like gazebos.

Rosie said: "We will always consider anything. If someone wants something making, we will do it and everything is made from scratch."

A year ago Scenecraft UK sold their first bird table at a farmer's market and the young entrepreneurs can't believe just how far they have come.

"We have had a lot of positive feedback. We have taken things one step at a time but its great that other people are showing confidence in our idea," she said.

Updated: 09:38 Tuesday, March 23, 2004