BIRDMAN Leigh Wigg never thought his business dream would fly. But thanks to a new Government-backed scheme for people with good ideas, the 27-year old from Margate is making his dream come true.

Leigh, who lives with partner Kerry in Kent Road, is being given £3,500 and specialist business advice to get his exotic bird breeding and conservation enterprise off the ground.

He is among East Kent's first group of budding business people accepted for the pioneering New Entrepreneur Scholarship scheme. It aims to help people living in hard-pressed areas of Thanet, Dover, Hastings and Brighton set up their own business.

The scheme is run by the Enterprise Agency of East Kent, the University of Kent's Canterbury Business School, Eastbourne and District Enterprise Agency and the Prince's Trust.

Leigh has done so well and grown in confidence that he has been chosen to be a role model to inspire others. "I'm more than happy to go out and talk to people about the ins and outs of it," he said.

Leigh used to install signs but was fed up working for other people. His real love has been birds since he was six when his parents gave him a cockatiel. He now has a large number of exotic birds, including two greater Indian hill mynahs, golden mantle rosellas from Australia, an orange wing Amazon, Chinese thrushes, and a bank mynah from the Philippines.

By breeding the birds in England, he hopes to help ease chronic pressure on these magnificent birds in the wild.

He is using the NES money to buy birds and equipment. Leigh has constructed several aviaries at the back of his house and is already searching for new premises - he hopes a farmer may be able to help - to house a growing collection.

He admits he was not business-minded before joining the NES scheme, but this has changed thanks to East Kent Enterprise Agency advisor Janice Sandwell and her team. They have helped him with business planning, financial control and marketing.

"I knew it was going to be hard," he said. "At the beginning, it will be a struggle but hopefully as I get more birds, get bigger, get the premises right to house them all, it will become easier."

He had this message for others. "If you've got an idea, give it a go. Some will be successful, others won't but you won't know unless you try. Go for it and give it all you've got, there's nothing to be frightened of."

The scheme has been so successful that a second intake is being invited to apply. It is open to anyone over 18, not in full-time education and living in parts of Dover and Thanet. More details from Janice Sandwell on 01843 233420.