AN INSPIRATIONAL Borders mum has received royal recognition for successfully turning her life round and launching a business from her own backyard.

Emma McDonald, 24, from Peebles, was just one of three young people across the UK to be chosen as a finalist at the Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards in London.

She is being rewarded for the great determination she showed in launching a successful floristry business with just £200 in savings.

Emma’s business Stems has blossomed since it started in a shed in her back garden in 2012.

Last year the company was named Florist of the Year in Scotland at the Scottish Wedding Awards.

Emma travelled to London last week for an Oscar-style ceremony hosted by Ant and Dec.

The glittering event recognised the achievements of young people supported by The Prince’s Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

Actor Kevin Spacey, X Factor judge Simon Cowell, actress Gemma Arterton and Arsenal legend and World Cup winner Thierry Henry were among the celebrities who congratulated the young people on their achievements. Singers Ella Henderson and James Bay were also performing at the event.

Emma was there for the RBS Enterprise Award, which recognises young people who have overcome serious difficulties to achieve success in creating a sustainable business or social enterprise.

She struggled to fit into life at school - her attendance was as low as 33 per cent, and she left at 15 with no qualifications. An aspiring entrepreneur with a hunger to learn, she began working with a local florist.

Years later, days before having her first child, she discovered that spending 10 months out of the country – in the wake of her brother’s death – disqualified her from maternity pay.

With only her partner’s salary and her immediate family living elsewhere, life for Emma became extremely challenging. Eager to break out of her predicament, she joined The Prince’s Trust, which supports young entrepreneurs by providing funding and mentoring.

At 21, and with just £200 in savings, she set up Stems. With help from The Prince’s Trust to write a business plan, she also secured grants from the charity to buy business cards, signage for her car and a shed to use as a workshop.

“I had the energy, the passion and the knowledge to get started, but I needed money and all the guidance I could get,” said Emma. “The Prince’s Trust really helped me out, I have a lot to thank them for.” Emma has a big focus on customer service and relationship building, and demand for her wedding flowers has more than tripled in a year.

She has built up a loyal following through Facebook and, with another loan from The Prince’s Trust, she upgraded her shed.

“I hope to employ a young person who, like me, doesn’t fit into the education system but has a creative side,” she said. “I feel I’ve been given a chance and I want to give that to someone else.” Thom Kenrick from RBS, said: “We are proud to support the RBS Enterprise Award which celebrates entrepreneurial young people who have managed to set up their own business.

“RBS is a long standing supporter of the Enterprise programme, as part of our 'Inspiring Enterprise’ initiative, because of success stories like Emma’s. To have been shortlisted for this prestigious national award is fantastic.

The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, now in their eleventh year, were held in London’s Leicester Square Odeon. This was the national final following a series of regional award ceremonies which took place across the country at the end of 2014.

Youth charity The Prince’s Trust gives disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job. Three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust move into work, training or education.

Samsung has supported The Prince’s Trust since 2012 and as the partnership moves into its third year, Samsung continues to work with The Trust to enrich the lives of young people through technology.

This year, Samsung is supporting the Awards with an initiative encouraging people to StandTall alongside the incredible young people supported by The Trust, celebrating their achievements as a nation. To find out more about the StandTall campaign and the stories of the young people visit www.samsung.com/uk/citizenship.