Saltash joiner and furniture maker Andrew Avent has been awarded a grant of £4,316 by Working Woodlands to help with the cost of equipment and improve-ments to the workshop he leases from the National Trust on the Cotehele Estate.
Andrew, aged 34, was formerly manager of a large joinery business in Saltash before setting up his own enterprise.
Having developed his skills, his aim now is to design and produce furniture from log to the finished product, specialising in locally grown timbers from Cotehele and the nearby Pentillie Estate and marketing his products with a certificate of local origin.
In order to develop his business further and increase productivity, Andrew needs new equipment for his workshop. The Working Woodlands grant will contribute towards the cost of installing a de-humidifier kiln and converting adjoining space into an air-drying and storage area.
A small chainsaw mill will enable him to process some of his local timber on site and a trailer will make transport easier.
This enterprise is one of 100 that have so far been awarded grants of over £500,000 from Working Woodlands, a European and UK government fund-ed programme to help people in the South West Objective 5b area who own woodland or work with wood.
For more information contact Working Wood-lands on 01803 867 891.