William Browne has achieved a long-held ambition and at the age of 27 has launched his own specialist sausage shop in his home town of Bradford on Avon, thanks to support from Transmit Start-Ups.

The Old Spot Sausage Company, based in Westdale Park, uses MEAT FROM Gloucester Old Spot pigs from Gatcombe Park, as well as local farms, to create a wide variety of sausages from Cumber-land and Lincolnshire to Firecracker and Hickory-flavoured.

He said: “It is great to have my own shop, as I sell at local town markets but they are usually finished around lunchtime so now I can trade for the whole day.

“The Transmit Start-Ups loan has been a big help as it has enabled me to buy essential equipment to set up a kitchen on my doorstep.

“I love creating the best quality sausages I possibly can and now I have the perfect set-up to do that.”

Transmit Start-Ups is part of the Government's national start-up initiative and offers low cost, flexible loans to budding entrepreneurs.

Melanie Shee, Transmit Start-Ups mentor for Mr Browne, said: “The Old Spot Sausage Company is a perfect example of how someone’s passion can be a great launch pad to become self-employed. William has set himself tough targets and has met every one.”

Mr Browne’s career started in countryside management and his love of outdoors led him to his first job at a sausage shop in Bath. He was one of the Hartley Farm team who won a Taste of the West Silver Award competition for his pork and leek sausage and traditional pork sausage.

The shop side of the business is open all day Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, and from 1.30-4.30pm for the rest of the week, except Sunday, and also sells from www.oldspot sausage.co.uk