Mentors celebrate the launch of healthy eatery.

A BUSINESS specialising in healthy eating has opened in Telford.

Lyfbar, situated in Lawley Square, is the brainchild of Alex Archibald and Bethany Tomlinson, and offers an alternative to traditional fast food.

It has opened thanks to support from the Shropshire Youth Support Trust (SYST) charity and members of its ASYSTORS Panel.

Alex said: "Our mission is to create a quick service grab and go health food eatery with a focus on nutritionally balanced foods.

"We've been blown away by the numbers of customers who are keen to come and try something new. We prepared two days of food for our first day to kick off with and it lasted two hours! We are now serving around 200 people a day."

SYST helps young and unemployed people in the local area find the opportunity to utilise their talents and potential so they can run profitable and viable businesses.

Alex said: "Having been accepted as an 'Asysted Business' with the SYST charity, we were then able to access the ASYSTORS Panel and were awarded not only funds, but our own mentor, David Lloyd, chief executive of LAF Holdings, whose guidance, support and importantly, his challenges to our thinking, have been so valuable in helping us craft and launch our new concept." The ASYSTORS Panel is an additional service offered by the charity, a scheme kicked off back in 2017 with five local founding companies - Brewin Dolphin, Morris & Company, Marches Care Homes, Dyke Yaxley and Wynn Developments.

These companies were inspired to come together in support of the charity, pledging their time and expertise to young people aged 18-30 starting a business - as well as providing valuable financial support to make some business dreams reality.

Today, the scheme has grown with 14 companies now official ASYSTORS, who hold a panel every month to meet and support young people with business ideas. Candidates are then prescribed a mentor who helps them draw in additional resources as required, using their contacts and expertise.