A SACRISTON woman who took the plunge and set up in business after being made redundant is in line for an award.

Mother-of-two Joanne Cameron set up Remote HR Solutions (North East) in March after losing the human resources job she had had for 13 years.

She got help and advice from the Ready for Business programme and is one of 22 finalists in the organisation’s first national awards.

She was nominated by Sunderland-based business organisation TEDCO, which gave her help and advice.

She and six other businesspeople have been shortlisted in the Business to Business category, after making it through regional selection.

The winners will be announced at the House of Commons on December 2.

Ms Cameron aims her business at enterprises that are too small to have a personnel department.

“I think there is a massive gap in the market where there is nobody that provides affordable HR advice,” she said.

“I have been helping starter businesses and established businesses that have under 30 employees.

“I have been doing a lot of voluntary work, doing people’s CVs to get back into workplace.”

Ms Cameron is a volunteer business mentor at Sunderland University and will do a masterclass for the students.

She is thrilled about the award shortlist saying: “I can’t believe it. I’m really excited and really privileged. It is such an honour to get this recognition within six months of starting up.

“When you start up you feel vulnerable and wonder if you are doing the right thing or should you get back into employment.”