TWO Midlothian-based entrepreneurs have successfully launched a new clothing brand after receiving support from Business Gateway.

MC Apparel was launched in April by Michael Surgeon and Liam Chisholm, after their first business paused trading due to Covid-19.

Working closely with Business Gateway, the brand received a variety of start-up support services, as well as accessing online resources such as webinars and advertising tutorials.

The guidance ensured the team were able to adapt to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Surgeon said: “We gained a wide range of support from Business Gateway and this meant the process of launching our new business went smoothly. The team at Business Gateway Midlothian have been very supportive during this period and the online workshops we attended were invaluable, helping us to develop a digital marketing strategy that allowed us to reach our target audiences even with the challenges of lockdown.”

Annie Watt, Business Gateway lead officer, said: “It’s impressive to see how Michael and Liam have adapted to lockdown, identifying an opportunity to launch a new business and taking it forward. They have been incredibly proactive, accessing a range of Business Gateway resources, attending workshops and arranging one-to-one sessions via Zoom to receive guidance and support on development plans.”