INSTEAD of retiring when he hit 63, entrepreneur Ray Sunman decided to start his own business.

Mr Sunman set up Ray Sunman Associates, a consultancy service in May 2008, for charitable organisations, local authorities and parish councils looking to secure grants and funding for projects.

He has secured £130,000 for a play area in Chiltern, a disadvantaged area of County Durham.

Mr Sunman had been working as a project manager with Bishop Auckland Community Partnership but was made redundant.

Instead of taking a back seat and enjoying early retirement, he started working for himself after advice and assistance from Business Link.

Mr Sunman said: “It was a big step to set up by myself and the first thing I needed was the encouragement to know that I had talents people needed and that I had a marketable product.

“I work with a variety of clients of all sizes from across the region. The Chiltern play ground was very rewarding as it is a deprived area in much need of facilities for the children.

Working for myself later in life is something I really enjoy as it fits in with my lifestyle and has opened up further opportunities of work in areas I enjoy, such as carrying out research projects.”

Despite having a wealth of experience in writing funding applications and working with a range of organisations to source grants, it was knowledge in running a business and obtaining start-up funding that Mr Sunman needed support with.

He said: “Without the help from Business Link I would not have started my own business, so I am very grateful for the help they have given me.”

For general information on the support Business Link has to offer, go to business link.gov.uk/northeast or call 0845-600-9006.