MORE than 70 business people were given an insight into the challenges and rewards of running your own business at the Lighthouse restaurant, Ulverston.

Sharing their experiences with an invited audience were John Thistlethwaite, boss of business success story Heron Glass, and Stephen Newby, who runs Full Blown Metals, both based in Ulverston.

The get-together was the latest in a series of events organised by development agency Furness Enterprise as part of its drive to develop an entrepreneurial culture in the area.

Heron Glass is a shining example of how a new business can survive and flourish.

Started in a cow shed by John Thistlethwaite and his son Ian, the venture expanded into premises in The Gill and is now based at the purpose-built £1 million Lakes Glass Centre in Ulverston alongside Cumbria Crystal.

Stephen Newby harnessed his craft skills to start up in business, creating sofas, armchairs and other household furnishings out of stainless steel.

He gained a commission to make an eye-catching piece of artwork used as a floor-to-ceiling screen in the reception area of Northern Arts' new offices in Newcastle.

Mr Newby, a former marine pipework apprentice at the Barrow shipyard, was awarded a £250 prize by Furness Enterprise in recognition of his success in business.

John Barker, project manager of the entrepreneurial programme, said: "Stephen is someone who has taken traditional craft skills and made a creative business out of them."