BABY ‘Dragons’ are invited to bid for a grant of up to £3,000 to ignite their business ambitions – and now Barry and Penarth are included.

Young entrepreneurs up to the age of 30 in the Vale are being given the chance to secure the grant to launch their own business with more than £60,000 available during the coming year.

Inspiring the Vale Bursaries, led by Creative Rural Communities, the Vale Council’s rural regeneration initiative, has been re-opened to provide assistance to young people looking to implement their ideas for businesses or community enterprises.

The project, which originally operated between 2008 and 2011, supported 23 new businesses - from barbers to photographers and from caterers to those specialising in renewable energy.

Many businesses have grown and now employ staff of their own.

The Creative Rural Communities team is hoping to attract new young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the project.

Vale Council cabinet member for regeneration, innovation, planning and transportation, Cllr Lis Burnett said: “We are delighted to announce the re-opening of this grant scheme to support new business development across the Vale of Glamorgan.

“The aim of the scheme is to encourage innovation, with an emphasis on support and encouragement and we hope we see many more success stories following in the footsteps of those young people who received funding in the initial phase and are now running successful businesses.”

Vale MP Alun Cairns said: “Mr Cairns said: “I’ve been so impressed with the range of support and advice provided by Creative Rural Communities. Their work and the residents’ participation highlights to me the strength of community spirit right across the rural Vale.”

Speaking at a briefing for organisations supporting young people in Barry, at The Gallery, on Broad Street, Nia Hollins, Senior Rural Regeneration Officer at Creative Rural Communities, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people living in the Vale of Glamorgan. The chance to secure a bursary can be invaluable to making a business idea a reality.

“Everyone needs help starting out in order to develop. Some of the businesses that received grants through the original project are now employing staff of their own.

“It just goes to show how small projects like this can make a huge difference in the community.”

Grants are available to those living in the Vale, or have done so in the last five years, and would like to establish a business in the county.

For details about Inspire Vale Bursaries, visit: www.creativeruralcommunities.co.uk

Potential applicants can register interest via https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/766SY88