Wayn's world got a whole lot brighter when he carved out a business of his own.

After 15 years of working in the stone trade, Cliviger man Wayn Dawe fulfilled his dream of owning a firm - thanks to a little help from ELTEC's FirmBase business start up programme.

The man of stone opened Cliviger Stone Merchants at Delph Hill Quarry, Briercliffe, and is now in something of a whirl, supplying flags, crazy paving, rockery and walling to clients locally and as far afield as Glasgow and Kent.

Wayn, 32, has plans to expand the business and is hoping that within the next two years he will have additional premises and more staff.

He acknowledges that ELTEC's FirmBase, which is supported by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget and European Funding, has played an important role in his success.

He said: "I had the experience to go it alone but didn't know exactly what running my own business would entail.

"It was very reassuring to have someone at the end of the phone when I needed advice or wanted to discuss new ideas."

FirmBase provides qualifying businesses with financial support for the first few months, as well as training and planning advice.

Entrepreneurs also get business counselling from their local enterprise agency, in Wayn's case Burnley Enterprise Trust.

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