Two teenage entrepreneurs from Pembrokeshire have pulled off a major coup for the county by signing up chart-toppers Girls Aloud for an exciting concert at Oakwood Theme Park later this month. Friends Aaron Kirkhouse and Alex Darlington, who set up their concert promotions company Mint Gigs when they left school last summer, have secured financial backing to stage the concert on July 21. Nearly half the 7,000 tickets for the concert have already been snapped up and the 19-year-old entrepreneurs are confident of a sell-out. As an extra incentive, the £26 tickets include use of all the attractions and rides in the park..
The concert is a massive step up for the former Tasker-Millward School and Pembrokeshire College students, who previously organised gigs across Pembrokeshire and at Barfly in Cardiff and Liverpool.
"It's a huge project and there is pressure but, having said that, the concept is fantastic and it's going to put our company on the map," said Aaron. "Holding a concert as big as this in a theme park hasn't really been done before. It's new, exciting and original." The business partners are being supported by the Welsh Assembly Government's free g2e programme and a Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF) Scholarship, which pays an allowance of £144 per week for nine months to new business start-ups. g2e is part of the KEF, a programme designed to transfer skills and research knowledge gained at colleges and universities in Wales to industry. Both Aaron and Alex praised the mentoring support provided by Jeremy Bowen Rees, of g2e, and Nick James, entrepreneurship champion at Pembrokeshire College.
"We couldn't have done it without their support and guidance and the funding from KEF," said Aaron. "Alex and I come up with ideas and then we go to Jeremy and Nick and ask them what they think. It keeps us grounded and helps to confirm that we are doing the right thing." Aaron and Alex started Mint Gigs in their spare time at school, arranging concerts at local venues for up to 500 people.
"We wanted to develop big shows, but the problems we faced were that we had no track record, no history and didn't know anyone in the music industry," said Aaron. "Once we had convinced Oakwood and a local financial backer, we approached Girls Aloud and they agreed to do the show. Having the weight of Oakwood behind us was a massive help. "After this concert we want to bring other A list bands to the county and maybe take the concept to other areas. We already have things lined up for the next few shows that we want to do in Pembrokeshire." Mr. Bowen Rees said Mint Gigs was a great success story for Pembrokeshire College and g2e. "Nick and I have helped them with their business plan, KEF scholarship application and given them tactical and operational advice," he added. "They work very well together and their business has really developed over the last six months." g2e offers a range of support to students and graduates of the last three years who are starting a small business in Wales. The flexible programme is tailored to meet the individual needs of aspiring entrepreneurs from the initial stage of exploring business ideas, throughout the start-up period and for a year after a business is up and running. Experienced business experts provide one-to-one mentoring, specialist consultancy support and help with small business grant applications. For more information contact g2e on 08456 010505 or e- mail [email protected]">[email protected].