Local Businesses Help Young Entrepreneurs

Following the success of previous Speed Networking events, RDP Sir Gâr’s Mentro recently held their latest session in Carmarthen’s Oriel Myrddin for a new group of young entrepreneurs.

Tomas Marks and Linda Morris from the Mentro project hosted the event. Mentro is run by Menter Bro Dinefwr and is part of the RDP Sir Gâr Rural Entrepreneurship project, providing free business support to young people aged between 16 and 30. The project is funded by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The event was arranged as a networking opportunity and for the future businesspeople to get advice from established businesses. The young entrepreneurs were given 4 minutes with each of the various experienced business mentors present, from companies including; Castell Howell Foods, Y Talardd, Huw Rees Brides, Tregroes Waffles and Davies Craddock Insurance.

“It was an eye opener! Some cracking people, with cracking ideas. It made me want to be a young, lean mean fighting machine again!” said Kees Huysman of Tregroes Waffles who kindly gave his time to mentor the youngsters.

“The initial four minute session is only the beginning of a long term engagement process linking emerging enterprises and existing businesses in rural Carmarthenshire,” said Tomas Marks.

If you’re a 16-30 year old in rural Carmarthenshire who has or is thinking of starting a business, contact Tomas Marks at Menter Bro Dinefwr for info on Mentro’s free service could help you: (01558) 825336 or email tomasmarks@menterbrodinefwr.org.