JOINING the committee of a business group has proved to be a bright career move for a Kidderminster designer.

Judith Bissell has worked as a theatre set designer, including a stint with Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Welsh National Opera.

Now she is a director of Ace Multimedia Ltd, a website design firm based on Bewdley Hill, after moving with her husband, Robert, and son Samuel, 12, from Telford. She works on the graphic and development side of the firm

Judith, 40, said: "I joined Wyre Forest Business Club a year ago and joined the committee just four months ago. As a woman, it is a great way to meet new people and I can thoroughly recommend it.

"Women can be intimidated by a business situation but with regular meetings held by the club you can network and get support, training and advice."

Judith left Birmingham University in 1981 where she studied interior design and soon became a prop designer with a puppet company which led to work with the BRB, Welsh National Opera and the BBC.

Judith said: "When I was quickly approaching the 'Big 40' I decided to get back to the grassroots of community theatre.

"I enrolled at Kidderminster College to study performing arts, focussing on theatre and education with a view to settling down as an arts administrator.

"After graduating, I was lucky enough to get a job as an arts administrator for a national charity and after a year I was promoted to project director.

"I was also working as a freelance designer for a pub theatre company, based in Birmingham, which was fun."

She later joined Ace Multimedia Ltd, now owned by her husband, who bought the company in 1995 when it was part of a larger organisation owned by Allied Domecq.

She added: "It is quite a change in direction for me and it is great to go once a month to meet up with other members of the business club where I know I can chat to someone if I have a problem."

For details on Wyre Forest Business Club, contact David Ashmore at Heath House, Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster on 01562 752021.