Lancaster University marketing graduate Faye Hewitson, 22, was the captain of Lancaster University Cheerleading Team taking them to competitions across the country.

After she left the squad she realised there was no cheerleading club for young people in Lancaster and Morecambe.

A passionate believer in the benefits of cheerleading, she decided to set up her own club and sought the help of the Lancaster University Student's Union (LUSU) enterprise unit Create.

Create, set up by LUSU to help students set up their own business, took Faye through the intricacies of writing a business plan and put her forward for the Create Panel otherwise known as The Friendly Dragons Den.

She said: "I knew what I wanted to do I just wasn't sure how to go about it.

"I had to do a 15 minute presentation to the panel which is composed of local entrepreneurs and business people. It was quite nerve wracking but I knew my subject matter and the panel liked it."
The Create Panel awarded her money and Create helped her set up the club.

She said: "Cheerleading is one of the fastest growing activities in the UK though we've got some catching up to do with the Americans. It's obviously very popular with the girls but the boys are starting to take an interest in as well."

Create manager Joe Buglass said: "Create was more than happy to help Faye – she is a natural business woman and the panel realised that. They were very impressed with her energy and determination."

Faye is currently running a number of after school clubs in Lancashire in September along with classes at Salt Ayre Leisure centre on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.