Aasa and Kennedy, an online gift retailer based in Pembridge, is one of the latest companies to benefit from Business Link's Going for Growth programme.

The business, launched by friends, Ali Powell and Charlotte Aasa, aims to offer a stress-free, high quality gift service from its website, www.aasakennedy.com, and has already celebrated a successful first year.

Now it has been working with Business Link adviser Sharon Kidson in a bid to expand and achieve the Going for Growth grant.

"Sharon has been a tremendous support, and has provided us with lots of useful and creative business ideas," says Ali.

"Business Link is a really positive initiative for rural businesses such as ours - it has offered us a real opportunity to move forward and grow."

If successful, the company intends to use the money to launch a national PR campaign and test aspects of e-marketing.