Scrantastic!

A teenager has been supported in her first steps to becoming the next big entrepreneur and opening her own business in Walker by FIN, part of the Entrust Group.

At just 16 years old, Donna Bone demonstrated a great entrepreneurial spirit and took the big decision to open her own mobile food van, without having any feelings of anxiety or nervousness. When most young people Donna's age were enjoying a nice long summer break from school, Donna was getting up to start work at 6am from Monday through to Friday.

Donna said:
"I always knew from an early age that I wanted to run my own business as I wanted to be my own boss and not have to answer to anybody. I had my business idea but I needed assistance with funding and the paperwork side of running a business so I went to FIN for help."

FIN, a service for ‘would be' entrepreneurs in Newcastle, is part of a wider package of support funded by Newcastle City Council and the European Union's ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-2013. Donna's FIN advisor, Jill Markwell, helped her with tax matters, food safety issues and helped her put together a successful application to get her business off the ground.

Donna continued:
"FIN were brilliantly helpful, I couldn't have done it without Jill's help. She introduced me to Lisa from Newcastle Futures who was also a great help in getting my Food Hygiene Certificate and my catering clothes."

FIN start up advisor Jill Markwell said:
"Donna is the youngest person I have helped start a business. It is unbelievable how driven she was from the moment that I first met her, and it was obvious that she would make it a success."

Donna, who is now 17 years old, runs her business ‘Scrantastic' on Walker Road in Newcastle and has a large customer base who return on a regular basis for more of her tasty food. Her future aim is to have a fleet of catering vans.

FIN advisors operate from offices in both the West and East end of Newcastle, and from outreach points across the City of Newcastle.

For free and impartial advice about how to get a business idea off the ground call 0191 278 1855 or visit www.finewcastle.co.uk .