Would-be dragon gets fired up by investment scheme

Published Monday 29 February 2016 at 9:15

Young entrepreneur Jacob Knowles has been given a helping hand thanks to the Assistance to Industry grant scheme.

The twenty-one-year-old from Darwen runs Empine Print Management from one of Darwen Aldridge Community Academy’s business pods.

The firm manages printed materials on behalf of companies including production, quality control, storage and distribution.

It has steadily grown since being set up in 2015 and Jacob has clients all over the North West with inquiries coming in from London based businesses.

Now with the help of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s business support service Empine has also just invested in a new large format printer.

The successful application to the Assistance to Industry scheme means increased growth potential and improved product quality.

“Purchase of the new wide format printer creates a very high quality product for our customers, whilst also reducing the cost, “ said Jacob.

“The new machine will increase the growth potential of Empine as a new business leading to higher turnover and job creation.”

Assistance to Industry is available to small to medium businesses to help them expand and are related in part to the number of jobs being created.

Jacob who says he’s always been interested in setting up a business attended the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy set up by Peter Jones of Dragons Den.

Whilst on the course he set up an online service for Sailing Clubs that offered tuition and a forum for clubs to network.

The idea saw him entered and shortlisted in two national competitions for young entrepreneurs and the chance to pitch to TV dragon Peter Jones.

Executive member for Regeneration, Councillor Phil Riley, said: “It’s great to see young people with such enthusiasm and drive and it’s exactly that kind of get up and go that we want to support.

“I would urge business owners both young and not so young to get in touch if they are thinking of investing and looking to grow their business to see if Assistance to Industry would work for them.”

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