YOUNG entrepreneurs with excellent business ideas are being encouraged to stay in the Romney Marsh as part of the Enterprise Gateway Scheme for New Romney.

The scheme will be aimed at school leavers and Marsh residents, who have been made redundant, need to consider new ways of making a living or have always wanted to go into business but have been unable to get the help they needed to start.

On Thursday at the Romney Marsh Network meeting at Southlands School, Edna Delany of Romney Resource Centre explained the scheme, which would be funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) with the Business Link Kent as project managers.

The remit is for two Enterprise Gateways in Kent. One will be in Medway and the second will either be in Folkestone or New Romney.

If New Romney is chosen a new premises will be built on the Mountfield Industrial Estate. This would include the Resource Centre for IT training, banks. Business consultants would be used as mentors to make sure the businesses are successful.

Mrs Delany said that the feedback from the questionnaires they sent out has been very positive and all those present at the meeting were in favour of the scheme.

Cllr Terry Preston, who chaired the meeting said: "We need to be collectively showing an interest in Romney Marsh as this is an excellent scheme and we should be pushing to make sure it comes to the Marsh."

After three years those on the scheme will be encouraged to move onto different premises hopefully staying on the Marsh. Although the scheme will be aimed at the young anyone who needs help to set up a businesses will be considered.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in this scheme then please contact John Foster the Economic Development Officer at Shepway District Council on 01303 850388l. More information can also be found on www.seeda.co.uk/enterprise?hubs/