A BAKER’S new business is on the rise after she received the "millionth" pound of funding from the Oldham Enterprise Trust (OET).

To mark the occasion Tayler Keogh Wroe made a special cake to say thank you to Sir Norman Stoller, who has provided £2 million from his charitable trust to the OET so it can help young budding entrepreneurs in the borough.

A total of £1 million has now been given out by the OET with around another £1 million available to successful applicants.

Tayler is a student on the Enterprise Course at Oldham College and has just started her own baking business, Hey Puddin, from home. She has received £3,000 to help get her business off the ground.

Tayler, of Littlemoor, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to the members of the Oldham Enterprise Trust, and especially Sir Norman, for believing in me and backing my business with funding.

“I know it’s going to be hard work, but I’m determined to repay the faith put in me and make a success of my business.”

Since November 2013, 157 businesses have received £1 million worth of grant funding and loans from the OET.

This has helped create 310 jobs, of which 151 are people under 25.

Among the success stories is Brad Jackson of Catalyst Claims, in Saddleworth. He was one of the first successful applicants back in 2014 and now employs 16 staff.

Brad is also giving back by helping assess prospective applicants.

Councillor Sean Fielding, leader of Oldham Council, attended the millionth pound ceremony at the Civic Centre.

He said: “We’re really pleased that the Oldham Enterprise Trust is in place to give entrepreneurs like Tayler the financial help their businesses need it most - when they are starting up.

“This funding will give Tayler the support she needs to make a success of her business, like it has done with lots of other start-ups across Oldham.

“The OET has produced some real success stories and they all have Sir Norman, through the Stoller Charitable Trust to thank.

“The Trust continues to help numerous businesses and organisations set up and grow. His support continues to benefit the borough and its people.”

Dave Benstead, chair of Oldham Enterprise Trust, said: “Now is a great time to be a young entrepreneur in Oldham.

“If you want to start a business and you don’t have all the skills, seek help, build or join an existing network and if things don’t go right don’t see it as failure, see it as learning.

“It’s tough getting a plan together and knowing where to source funding and we can help with both. We’ve reached a midpoint £1m funding milestone and have provided access to some of the best support available.”

The OET offers grants to applicants under 26 and low-cost loans to 26 to 35-year olds.

Anyone thinking of starting a business, or within the first two years of trading, can apply to the Oldham Enterprise Fund and will receive support and one to one support from a business adviser.

Companies don’t have to be looking for funding to access free business support.

For more information, and how you can apply, visit https://www.oldhamenterprisetrust.org.uk/fund/