A SUCCESSFUL and long-standing employability charity is entering a new era after opening up its headquarters to provide a base for local businesses to grow.

The Trust has welcomed a number of enterprises into its home at the Muirshiel Industrial Estate in Port Glasgow.

They recently held a special get-together to celebrate the success of the development.

Some of the local businesses now thriving within the Trust's busy HQ include Bake it Easy and fashion line Fairlie Curved.

Trust chairman Duncan McNeil said: "This is a fantastic enterprise sharing space with local businesses and building a community.

"Necessity is the mother of all invention and for both ourselves and the third sector we have had to think about how we deliver for people in the future.

"This is an opportunity to support small businesses in our properties, but also to continue our work with training and investing in our young people.

"I am very proud of the Trust and what we have achieved over a very long time and we are always looking at ways to evolve.

"The Trust will continue to offer skills, opportunities, education and training to our young people."

Provost Drew McKenzie attended the event along with ward councillors, including Robert Moran.

Local businesswoman and chef Yvonne Purdie, who recently opened up her second restaurant with her sister in Gourock, is one of the Trust's success stories.

She went along there to gain skills and ended up running the kitchen before branching out on her own.

Yvonne said: "I owe the Trust such a lot, they gave me such a great start.

"I have been involved since 2013 when I came looking for training and I gained my SVQs.

"They have been a great support to myself and my sister."