Joanna Chance (23) started her business in March 2002 with help from PSYBT and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise.

In spite of severe personal disadvantage, Joanna has achieved a considerable number of academic qualifications including two Highers and 22 SQA modules.

She received practical training with the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, a Skill Seekers course at the Floral Hall in Inverness and experience at a local herb nursery. The nursery is based on the family farm and consists of raised display areas and polytunnels linked by gravel paths.

Joanna has an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants, which enables her to offer expert advice to customers. She supplies hanging baskets and has expanded into garden design and maintenance. This has been particularly successful in generating additional plant sales for the garden centre.

The business retails through a local Fisherman's Co-op and gains much of its business through word of mouth, with an increasing number of very satisfied repeat customers.

The Prince's Trust Scotland is a charitable organisation that supports individuals and their local communities by encouraging them to grow and prosper in business.

Find out more about loans offered by the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and access the PSYBT Business Start-up Guide, packed with facts and information on how to set up a business.