AS one of the first graduates from the National Enterprise Academy, Ashleigh Layton-McIntosh is not letting the grass grow under her feet.

The 20-year-old is already translating a business idea, developed during her course, into reality and is preparing to launch her own online company selling women's vintage clothing.

Ashleigh, from East Croydon, has had a long-standing interest in fashion coupled with a desire to run her own company.

And her course has set her on the path to combining both.

The academy was set up last September by Peter Jones, entrepreneur and star of TV show, Dragons' Den, with the aim of discovering and training the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The course includes setting students business challenges, master-classes and a month-long business placement.

Ashleigh said: "The course I was on was in Amersham in Buckinghamshire, which involved four hours of travelling a day. It was very tiring but well worth it."

As part of the course, students had to set up and run their own micro-business and it was then that Ashleigh decided to turn her interest in fashion, and vintage clothing in particular, into a money-making idea.

Ashleigh is coy about exactly how much money she made selling clothes to her friends but admitted it was "a fair amount".

And it was certainly enough to encourage her to go "full-time" after her graduation last week.

She has developed a business plan and is putting the finishing touches to her website ready to go live in the next couple of months.

The company will be called Embellish, the name used for her academy venture.

Ashleigh said: "I have always liked vintage clothes because they are unique and you can't buy them again."

She believes there is a growing interest in styles from the 1940s and 1950s and is prepared to spend a lot of time looking for the right stock to sell.

Ashleigh said: "I shall be going out to car boot sales, markets and vintage shops looking for clothing.

"I think selling the clothes online will be an advantage because people will be able to choose what they want without having to hunt around for it."

Ashleigh also intends running a parallel website offering style advice.

She was presented with her double distinction BTEC award by Mr Jones at a ceremony held at Manchester City Football Club's ground, near where a branch of the academy is based.

Mr Jones said: "Enterprise is essential to the future success of the UK economy and that success starts with young people like Ashleigh."