A FEMALE entrepreneur who set up her own computer consultancy 18 years ago has won a business award.

Margaret Clare, managing director of Solutions Recruitment, in Newcastle, has been named North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.

She set up her consultancy in 1984 and gradually expanded into recruitment.

The company then covered management selection, engineering, human resources, finance and secretarial staff and now has a turnover of £3.5m, employing 22 people at its two city centre offices in Newcastle.

Ms Clare said: "These awards are a great encouragement for other female entrepreneurs to try for themselves and perhaps gain some inspiration from seeing others succeed. My own personal ethos is simply to keep at it, don't lose sight of what you went into business for and don't be deterred. I enjoy what I do, but in business you can never be complacent, there is always another challenge around the corner."

She received the Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship at the Women into Network awards, to recognise the contribution made to the North-East economy by women.