Wirral web designer up for national award

By Alistair Houghton on Jul 23, 09 01:00 PM

A WIRRAL woman who has overcome adversity to set up her own web design business is in the running for a national award.
Nicola Smout, who has a hearing impairment, founded the Liverpool Website Design Company after struggling to get back to work and has since seen business boom.

Now she has reached the final of the Government-backed Barclays Trading Places Awards, a scheme to honour those who have turned their lives around by starting businesses.
Ms Smout worked for ITV providing web services which integrated sign language translations on its website.
She took time out to have a family but, as she did not have any formal qualifications, found geting back to work a daunting prospect - particularly as she her hearing impediment meant she could not use the phone. So in November, she decided to set up her own firm.
Soon after starting the company Ms Smout suffered a miscarriage, but threw herself into work to keep the business growing.
Barclays' marketing director for local business, John Davis, a judge on the panel, said: "Trading Places is a celebration of inspiring people who have struggled through adversity to get their businesses up and running - even during these turbulent times.
"We hope that with this recognition, Liverpool Website Design Company will continue on the road to success."
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Through initiatives such as the Trading Places Awards we can honour the next wave of entrepreneurs who have overcome personal barriers, driven change and made their ideas a reality."