A COVETED corporate award could be on the cards for a Hollins businesswoman who, along with her cousin, has created a design and publishing company which is winning national and international recognition.

In just two years, Katie Pennington-Collins and Kurt Abbott have propelled K2 Greetings Ltd into a position where they can legitimately compete to command a top five place in the UK's cards publishing market.

And in tribute to 24-year-old Katie's achievement in the face of initial adversity, she has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Artemis category in the prestigious 2005 NatWest Everywoman Awards to be staged in London on November 30.

Meanwhile, K2 Greetings has just clinched a lucrative deal with Clinton's to supply the high street giant with thousands of its acclaimed Kudos male-focused greetings cards.

The contract is a significant coup for K2, based at DTE House in Hollins Mount, which already exports to 17 countries worldwide thanks to an effective distributor network. And in the UK, a dozen sales agents ensure a growing presence in the country's independent cards shops.

Keen photographer Katie, of Hollins, who trained as a television set designer, went travelling for a year prior to the launch of the business. Many of the atmospheric landscape pictures culled from her portfolio went on to adorn K2's cards.

"Myself and Kurt had always wanted to set up in business together," she said. "We realised there was a massive greetings cards market out there and we saw an opportunity to get involved. We've developed so much since then. The last two years have really been a learning curve."

This is illustrated by the fact that Katie originally sought out a £30,000 loan to create K2's first stock of cards.

Unfortunately, inspiring designs were not enough and with no industry contacts, Katie fell upon a rogue printer who sold her short and not one of their first delivery of 50,000 cards was up to the challenges of the commercial market. With first-class determination, however, a second loan and a little more industry-savvy, both she and Kurt have witnessed a phenomenal growth in K2 both home and overseas.

Kurt (26), who lives in Unsworth, commented: "In just our second year of business, we trebled turnover and we expect that to rise two and a half times in the third year. The first year was a struggle but it's amazing what can be achieved by a great deal of hard work. Our aim is to be among the top five cards publishers in the UK.

"We are also on the look-out for freelance artists. As a bright, innovative company we are keen to see ideas of any genre, but particularly fine art and humorous designs."

Those interested in submitting samples of their artwork should e-mail info@k2greetings.com