Mark Noble swapped a career in the motor trade to launch his own bespoke clothing business.

He linked up with Belfast-based Chris Suitor to open the Noble Suitor in Tynwald Mills, St John’s.

And Mark, originally from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, has now given the thumbs-up to the help and support he has received from the Department for Enterprise’s Micro Business Grant Scheme.

Mark told Business News: ’A friend suggested I should look into schemes that the government could help me out with and the micro business grant scheme looked perfect.

’We were always going to start the business and we have not looked back.’

With 18 months of planning, a grant from the government and the solid support of the landlord at Tynwald Mills, what started as an idea became a reality.

Mark was one of five island small business owners who spoke on a panel at an event organised by the Isle of Man Business Network.

’How to launch your own micro business in the island’ was designed to inspire people who may have a business idea to take a chance and try to make a go of it, with support from the Department for Enterprise.

A spokesman for the business network group said there was a good level of sign-up for the event which was indicative of the number of people who have a job already but are looking to develop a micro business and are seeking support with that.

The panellists lined up ranged from creative designers to soap makers:

lKim Graziano - Kim Gee Studio (Designer and Illustrator)

lClaire Christian - Claire Christian Couture

lMark Noble - The Noble Suitor

lAndy Skillen - A Creative Designer

lGlyn Edge - Snaefell Soaps

It appears island based Mark’s experiences have caught the eye of other entrepreneurial friends who are now taking a serious look at what the island has to offer.

Mark a regular visitor to the TT for years, was once the general manager of a motorbike dealership, but the clothing trade was something he was keen to get involved in.

The Noble Suitor is very much involved in bespoke clothing and he always aims for customers to enjoy their experience going there.

He told Business News he sometimes even visits customers in their homes.

And what makes the difference is that he attends to the small details. He once drove to the airport when a client was pushed for time.

Mark said: I still have a business mentor who I meet with on a quarterly basis. Luckily we are in a position where we are doing well but the mentor is able to come up with different ideas and things and different ways of helping you out.

’We also do a made to measure service for men and women too,

’If we are making someone a suit, we do it by appointment according to a time that suits the customer. We can cater for any age and any taste.

Niche requests made from customers have included a customer who wanted a suit with Three Legs of Mann lining.

Susan Lawlor, manager of the Isle of Man micro business grant scheme, said: ’We are going from strength to strength. We have signed our 44th contract since April, that means since April we have supported 44 businesses on island.

’Two years ago it was a total of 88 for the year, last year it was 71.

’Everything is coming together with all the changes that have been made.

’It can be anything, we have retail, we have construction, certain local service sectors.There is such a wide variety, it is fantastic.’

’Micro businesses means that their projected turnover can be between £5,000 and £100,000 for the first year.

’We are talking about smaller businesses that are just looking for that start up , something to help them on the first step of the ladder.

’It’s positive for everyone, the government , the businesses concerned and the wider public.

’It’s also great fun.’ She described Mark Noble as a ’great character’ and she praised the way he presented his business case when he was looking for assistance in his entrepreneurial scheme.

She said that if more people are going to be attracted to the island then schemes like this are the type of thing that will help.

Miss Lawlor said: ’The scheme is busier than it has ever been but we want that to continue.

’We are trying to grow the economy. The last time we did the figures it was 96.4% of businesses that had signed contracts were still running 18 months later.

’It’s constantly evolving.

’We have a lady who does gas engineering work and there was the man who changed careers to sell ice cream.’