A YOUNG businesswoman from Bury is certainly in the “premier” league.

Fashion graduate Elena Mingas, aged 25, was one of four young people from the North West chosen to meet the Prime Minister David Cameron at an event hosted by Business Finance Solutions.

In October, Elena became the first young person in the country to benefit from a new Government-backed loans scheme.

She was awarded £2,500 from the UK Start-Up Loans for Young People initiative, allowing her to set up her own Tangle Dress Design business in Rochdale Road.

David Cameron was visiting the North West to announce that the scheme will receive an additional £30 million, taking the total funding to £110 million, and the age range will be expanded.

Elena, who began running her shop in September, also met former Dragons’ Den star and chairman of the Start Up Loans company, James Caan, at the event in Preston.

She has already taken on another dressmaker.

Elena said: “Meeting the Prime Minister was absolutely brilliant. Having the chance to explain what I have done and tell him all about the business I set up thanks to Start up Loans was a very big moment for me. One where I felt immensely proud, slightly intimidated and truly inspired to achieve more.

“It's a great feeling to know that our Prime Minister knows all about my business and that we have a Government in power that cares about small business owners and young people like me. I was also surprised at how much he knew about the fashion and textile industry and how easy he was to speak to.”

On her meeting with the Dragons’ Den star, Elena added: “Just being acknowledged by a man of James’s business stature encourages you to do more and inspires you like nothing else. People can relate to his rags to riches story and I think its fantastic he’s getting behind young entrepreneurs and taking an interest in people’s individual stories.”

Mr Cameron said: “It was really good to meet some brilliant entrepreneurs who have got their loans and have got great businesses under way. Some of them are already employing people, which is great news for them and great news for the economy.”