David Russ, from Newport & Gwent Enterprise, is worried about the future of the Taste of Enterprise scheme, which his organisation runs.

The scheme, which has helped more than 870 people test business ideas, could suffer due to changes in business support funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the end of European Objective 2 funding in March next year.

He told icWales:

"A huge level of interest has come from Europe with government groups hoping to use the Taste of Enterprise business model to create similar projects.

"What a shame it would be to give up something in Wales that is being embraced and mirrored internationally."