Leila Angus, a 25 year-old photographer from Sandwick, became the latest successful business start-up applicant to be assisted by the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT), following a meeting of the Lewis Panel of the Trust last week.

She is also one of four business-people who will tell of their experiences in setting up on their own, at a Business Start-up Awareness Evening organised by Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, to be held in "An Lanntair" in Stornoway on Thursday 22^nd June, at 7:00pm. Young people are invited to go along and find out for themselves just how rewarding setting up their own business can be.

Leila, through her new business "Brighter Still", hopes to build on a client-base and areas of expertise previously developed at Eolas Media Ltd, where she was employed for three years prior to her decision to branch-out on her own. Leila is also developing a growing reputation on the Celtic Music circuit for producing high-end imagery for album use and publicity material.

Also assisted with Expansion funding at last week's meeting was Shawbost electrician, Kevin MacRae. Kevin was the Western Isles Shell LiveWIRE winner earlier this year and he also won a prize for his display at the National Final in Edinburgh in April. These successes gave him the confidence to expand and purchase a larger vehicle for his business.

This week's Business Start-Up Awareness Evening at An Lanntair has been organised by the Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Business Development Service, which is based in the Ness Development Centre, North Dell. Participants will be able to find out more about what's on offer through the PSYBT and from other avenues locally, including information on assistance available through Western Isles Enterprise.

The key to the whole evening though, will be the opportunity to hear from young people who have done it themselves. Most of who have had assistance from the PSYBT to set themselves up, or to expand their businesses.

As well as Leila Angus, who will be giving a perspective of the "brand new" business, speaking at the Awareness Evening will be Duncan MacKay of "Autohire", who was a winner at last year's Highlands & Islands Business Awards. Duncan (pictured here), who was assisted by PSYBT with start-up and Expansion funding, has recently moved to new and larger premises on Bells Road, Stornoway, following from the success of his business to date.

A wide range of experiences will be portrayed by the speakers, including David Wood of "Woody's Express Parcels" and Derek MacLeod of "Surf & Sports", two businesses which have taken-off in a big way respectively in the time they have been up-&-running.

Anyone from the Butt to Rodel who thinks they may want to set up their own business is welcome to come along and learn some more. Advice about other sources of funding will also be available on the night.

The PSYBT Regional Chairman is Lochmaddy Councillor Donald MacLean, who is also chairman of the Comhairle's Development Services Committee. He said:

"This event is a fantastic opportunity for any young person aged from around 16 through to 25, who wants to know more about setting up their own business. They will be able to hear 'from the horses mouth' about the experiences of other people who have already been through the system and are now running successful businesses of their own."

He continued:

"We hope very much that this evening will be a success and we will be holding a similar event in the Uists later on in the summer."

Also commenting on the Awareness Event, PSYBT Regional Manager, Domhnall MacDonald said:

"The idea is to give people a flavour of what it is like to set up in business, from those who have done it themselves. People don't even need to be living here at present to take advantage of the available opportunities. This event was timed partly to coincide with the students from the area currently coming back home for the summer break."

The PSYBT process is a simple one. The key, however, is that it must be driven by the desire and ambition of the young people themselves. From the very initial enquiry, help is at hand to help applicants compile a Business Plan, suggest additional sources of support and finance and generally prepare the young person for the meeting with the local PSYBT Panel, who make decisions on awards. This might take the shape of a loan of up to £5,000 or, in certain cases, a grant of up to £1,000.

The Trust provides a package of support, both pre and post-start, to ensure that the fledgling businesses have the best possible chance of success. Every successful applicant gets the benefit of hands-on support, Bookkeeping training and up to ten "Aftercare" visits over a two-year period, from a trained and experienced Business Adviser.

For further information about the Awareness Event, or about the PSYBT in general, contact: