Hayley crafts a jewellery career with Prince's Trust

Hayley Wright came up with a gem of an idea after studying at Dudley College and Wolverhampton University — and has now started her own jewellery business.

"I have always been hopelessly romantic and a little eccentric, and didn't care to be the same as everyone else," she said.

She loved to wear jewellery, but thought something so special should be as individual as the person who wore it but, disappointed with what the shops had to offer decided to make her own.

So she set about designing her own jewellery, and with more than a little inspiration and a lot of hard work she made a few pieces she was very proud of, and wore them wherever she went.

Her friends would ask her where she got her jewellery from and if she could make some more, and before long she was busy making jewellery for them and their friends.

"Then one day a shopkeeper saw a ring I had made and asked if I could make a collection of jewellery to sell in the shop just like it and in that inspired moment Romantic Eccentric was born.

"But I had no business skills and not a great deal of confidence, and it was suggested I attend a Prince's Trust enterprise programme, and it's the best thing I ever did. I've spent a small fortune on my education but found I really gained so much from this course and it was free.

"Over a period of six months I pitched my business to an investment panel to get financial investment, designed the four collections of my jewellery range and designed my website with the help of a web designer I had met through the Prince's Trust. I was thrilled with the results and the Romantic Eccentric website was launched April 12 2011," she said.

Hayley has now started trading under that name, designing and making unique pieces of jewellery in all precious metals at her studio at her home in Penn.

Barbara Wilcox, Prince's Trust programme executive for Enterprise in Wolverhampton, said: "Hayley is a wonderful example of how the Prince's Trust can help young people realise their potential and, in many cases, transform their lives."

You can see Hayley's range at : www.romantic-eccentric.co.uk