Two fledgling entrepreneurs have received the backing of HE Full Circle to get their businesses up and running.

Fashion designer Katy Cartwright and illustrator Rhian Lloyd, who both recently completed their HND qualifications at Stafford College , have benefited from bursaries of £1000 each to launch their new ventures.

The cash will be used to buy materials and equipment which would otherwise be out of their reach financially.

Katy Cartwright said: “The bursary has been a great help – without it I wouldn't be able to get my semi-industrial sewing machine, and stock up on supplies which will help me get my designs onto the market.”

Rhian Lloyd said: “I used the cash to get an A1 inkjet printer, which will help me to print high-quality versions of my designs and get established in the greetings card market.

“There's no way I could've bought that without the help of HE Full Circle .”

The HE Full Circle project at Staffordshire University is a five year project funded by Advantage West Midlands and the North Staffs Regeneration Zone.

The Enterprise strand of the project is designed to help graduates become self-employed and stay in Staffordshire – thereby preventing their skills being lost to another area, and helping to drive local regeneration.

Benefits available to graduates include: bursaries, 12 months membership to the Chamber of Commerce, access to a business mentor and on-going support and advice.

Enterprise Co-ordinator Chris Garner said: “We have now awarded 40 bursaries to enthusiastic graduates, like Katy and Rhian, who have wide ranging business ambitions.

“But it's not just about getting them started – we want to make sure they stay in business, which is why we pay for Chamber membership and provide on-going support.

“All we ask is that the business is located within Staffordshire and applications must be from people who have graduated in the last two years.”

For more information, contact Richard Swancott at MarketCare PR, on 07880 733138, or via email at richardswancott@marketcare.net .

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