A NEW West Somerset micro brewery could be on the verge of helping to revive the local tourism, retail and hospitality industry.

The prospective business at Porlock Weir has just been successful in the first round of applications for a Coastal Communities grant, a Government funded initiative aimed at promoting sustainable growth and jobs in coastal communities.

Potential owner Royston Connor, who runs both the 'top' and 'bottom' Ship Inns in Porlock and Porlock Weir, said he had received support from the business mentoring project Collaborative Business Enterprise with his application.

"I joined the mentoring scheme around three months ago to get guidance on applying for a CCF grant to set up the brewery," he said.

"We have recently heard that our initial application was successful, which is really positive news and we are now in the process of making the full application."

Mr Connor (pictured) will find out if he has been successful in securing the grant in January next year.

"The funding would help us to set up the microbrewery, which will be set up as a Community Interest Company," he said.

"We will employ local people and the business will be a subsidiary of the Porlock Futures Group, which aims to improve the local economy, employment and amenities so any money will be invested back into the community."

The Collaborative Business Enterprise project is a free mentoring service provided by experienced business owners and professionals who volunteer to support businesses.

Cllr Karen Mills, lead for economic regeneration and tourism on West Somerset Council, which is one of the funders of the project, said the initiative aimed to fill a gap in national business support services by giving business owners the chance to have a face-to-face conversation about their business with an experienced professional.

"It is aimed at entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business and those which are already established and looking to grow," she said.

Roger Hall, who is Mr Connor's mentor under the scheme and who recently retired as an IT project delivery manager for a telecommunications company, said: "I think Porlock Micro Brewery will be more than just a business.

"It will also help revive the tourism, retail and hospitality sectors within the village, which all play an important role in the economy of the area."

More information about the Collaborative Business Enterprise project, which is open to all businesses employing less than ten full-time staff located in the Western Somerset area, is available at http://www.kjelgaard.co.uk/current_projects/business_mentoring">www.kjelgaard.co.uk/current_projects/business_mentoring.