A SPORTSWEAR printing and clothing venture has been able to turn a hobby into a thriving business thanks to a bursary scheme run by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Iguana Apparel Clothing and Printing is run by Kieran Spear and Leon Andrews, from Penarth, and is operating from a home office in the town.

The business has received a grant of £1619.90 from the Inspiring the Vale scheme for young entrepreneurs.

The scheme - funded by the Vale council and the Waterloo Foundation - provides bursaries of up to £3000 for young people aged 16-30 who intend to start a new business or enterprise in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Mr Spear, 28, an NVQ assessor studying a part-time Masters in Graphic Communication at the University of South Wales, admitted that prior to starting the venture, neither he or his fellow director Mr Andrews - who works as a curriculum engagement officer at Llanwern High School and captains Cross Keys RFC in the Welsh Principality Premiership - had any knowledge of the clothing industry in terms of manufacturing and design.

But with support and advice meetings on subjects such as intellectual property, social media marketing, and legal aspects of the business, they were able to go from strength to strength.

The aim is to focus on creating two distinct parts of the business, namely printing and a clothing label.

He said: "We noticed that affordable and quality team wear and sportswear in south Wales was hard to come by for clubs not playing at professional level.

"That coupled with the contacts we have in the sporting industry has given us the desire to set up our own clothing and sportswear label."

Applicants need to submit a business plan, three year cash flow forecast and application form which is then assessed by a panel for approval

Mr Spear added: "The Inspiring the Vale bursary has allowed us to develop what initially started as a hobby into a viable business.

"Both the business advice and financial support we have received to date has provided us with the opportunity to produce high quality garments and build our own clothing label.

"The funding has also allowed us to spend more time with local people and businesses of south Wales, providing low cost garment printing services.”

The Inspiring the Vale bursary scheme is run by Creative Rural Communities, a regeneration and economic development initiative led by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

The label has already had success on a charity basis, producing innovative designs for professional sports starts hailing from the Vale of Glamorgan such as Lee Selby.

Iguana Apparel now has a long term goal of producing affordable sportswear, team wear and casual wear to the sport scene in South Wales with a particular focus on rugby.

They've already supplied kit to local rugby clubsOld Penarthians, Penarth, Dinas Powys and Barry.

The scheme is still welcoming applicants. For more information contact agee@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or call 01446 704367.