A young Ammanford entrepreneur met Prince Charles last week at the launch of The Prince’s Trust Cymru’s Business Programme for Wales in Abertillery.

Heledd Jones, 26, will be one of the first people supported by The Prince’s Trust Cymru’s Business Programme.

The programme, due to be launched by Prince Charles at the Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute in Blaenau Gwent, aims to help more than 400 Welsh businesses over the next three years, potentially generating up to £4 million for the Welsh economy.

The programme is especially geared towards unemployed 18-30 year olds struggling to get their foot on the career ladder by providing low-interest loans, grants and mentoring. It aims to help around 150 entrepreneurs a year.

Welsh-speaker Heledd has been given a grant to design, manufacture and sell Welsh language gifts and cards.

“I noticed that there is an increasing demand for Welsh language goods – but a lack of good quality ones on the market, and those which are, are generally highly priced,” said Heledd. “I hope to fill this gap in the market, with the support given to me by The Prince’s Trust.”

The Prince’s Trust Cymru has been able to launch the Business Programme thanks to private donations from The Prince’s Trust supporters Henry and Diane Engelhardt, David and Heather Stevens and the Peter Cruddas Foundation.

Michael Mercieca, director of The Prince’s Trust Cymru, said: “A recent Prince’s Trust report shows that while two in five young people would like to start their own business – less than six percent actually do with 40 percent citing high start-up costs as the biggest barrier.

“The Business Programme will help to cultivate young talent in Wales by providing financial support and business mentoring — all the ingredients that are needed to get a successful business off the ground.”