A TALENTED art and design student from Reading College has secured an impressive head start to her career by winning a logo competition.

Set by global household goods company, Protector and Gamble, the competition will see Catriona Blain's designs used as the new site logo for employee clothing, presentation slides and internal branding such as posters and wall transfers at P&G's Gillette Reading site.

The plant on Basingstoke Road recently celebrated 60 years of manufacturing.

The brief was to create a design that reflected the company's Reading location and employees' aspirations - 'Dream, Believe, Achieve.'

Catriona submitted six logos inspired by the company's Reading building, Reading's iconic Maiwand Lion and the plant's 60th anniversary, represented by a diamond design.

Catriona said: "When it is something you like and enjoy, it makes you want to do yourself proud and show off your talent.

"I was really shocked to win, but it made me really happy that my work is being appreciated by other people."

Anna Glanville-Smith, faculty manager for Creative Industries, said: "We’re really proud of Catriona’s achievement and very grateful to P&G Gillette for providing this exciting opportunity.

"Real life work experience is such an important part of our curriculum as it prepares our learners for the workplace and provides the skills they need to succeed in their future careers.

"Working with such a prestigious global company has certainly inspired our learners and has shown them where their college pathways might lead them."

Husnu Yilmaz, reading plant site leader, added: "We are passionate about our business and we are passionate about supporting our local community.

"As an organisation, we encourage our employees to utilise their skills, promote creativity and innovation.

"It seemed natural to offer this opportunity to students from Reading College and give them this stepping stone for our vision renewal into their chosen profession."

As the competition winner, Catriona receives £250 of vouchers or art equipment, a reference and work experience with P&G Gillette developing her designs.

As part of the prize, the company is also awarding £750 to Reading College to put towards design resources.

Catriona said that she has used her time on her diploma programme to 'collect my thoughts on what I want to do in the creative industries in the future,' and that she would 'really recommend this course to any aspiring designer.'

Catriona has an unconditional offer from Falmouth University to study a graphic design degree, which she will be taking up in the autumn.