Jewellery business sparkles
Council awards Business Incentive Grant
An experienced jewellery teacher has received a sparkling start to her new business in the form of a £750 grant from Test Valley Borough Council.
Ruth Facey combined teaching with making jewellery as a hobby for many years and has now started a new business ”The Workshop Gallery' from her home in Andover where she has a fully-equipped studio.
Her business idea to teach people how to make their own jewellery came about through her love of teaching, awareness of a demand for people to make things for themselves together with membership of several arts and business networks.
Ruth is a very experienced jewellery teacher having worked at the former Cricklade College, Portsmouth University, Winchester School of Art, Viables Craft Centre in Basingstoke and Marlborough School.
Millway ward member, Councillor Zilliah Brooks, who presented Ruth with the cheque, said: “Ruth is the latest beneficiary amongst a number of Andover artists who the Council have helped with a grant and represents part of an emerging community-based form of business which Andover should be proud of and which we, in turn, are proud to support. “
Ruth said: “I was recommended to enquire about the grant by Katherine Bird, among others, who I work with on Andover Trees United. The Council’s Business Incentive Grant has really helped with my new business and I am most grateful to them for their support.”
The Council’s £750 Business Incentive Grants are available to anyone looking to set up their own business in Test Valley. Budding entrepreneurs should apply for the grant before they start their company and if it is still going strong six months later, they will receive the cheque.