CAKE maker Allison Whitmarsh hopes she has the recipe for national success – after being hailed as one of the region’s top young entrepreneurs.

Allison’s Marsh-based company, Proper Maid, has impressed judges in the north-east regional finals of the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

Now she hopes to be selected to fly the flag for the region at the national finals – and get a shot at landing the top prize of £30,000.

Allison launched Proper Maid in July, 2008, after getting help from Huddersfield University’s Business Mine to conduct market research which suggested there was a gap in the market for luxury cakes “with a twist”.

Her company was named New Business of the Year in the 2008 Examiner Business Awards – since when she has landed a number of accolades and has sealed a contract to supply nine Asda stores as well as distributing her tasty concoctions to independent shops and farmers’ markets.

She now employs an army of helpers to produce tasty cakes with unusual combinations of ingredients such as chocolate chilli and fudge, chocolate and beetroot and courgette and lime.

A dandelion and burdock cake – created in tribute to her home town and Ben Shaws’ famous dandelion and burdock pop – won the award for best bakery product at the 2009 Deliciously Yorkshire Awards.

Now Allison is planning a liquorice cake to mark the 250th birthday of Yorkshire’s favourite sweets, Pontefract Cakes.

Proper Maid is expanding its premises to support the production of single portion retail packs and is developing contacts with other local suppliers to help increase sales.

Talks are under way with Morrisons, Booths, Tesco and Selfridges – while by 2011 Proper Maid plans to look into the potential of international sales.

Huw Morgan, head of business banking for HSBC, said: “HSBC Start-Up Stars is about demonstrating by practical example that – with the right help and support - there are still great opportunities out there for people with the dedication and drive to succeed.”

The awards, now in their 10th year, recognise the UK’s most promising young businesses less than four years old – with more than £50,000 worth of cash and prizes waiting for the winners.

Proper Maid is hoping to land a place at the top table on October 18 when more than 300 business leaders come together at London’s Dorchester Hotel to hear the names of the national winners.