A COUNTY MP has officially launched a new business venture which provides employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, was guest of honour at the launch of Pink Mountain Ltd which imports products made with Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt.

The social enterprise was developed by the manager of Pack-IT Hereford – which runs an innovative training program for those on disability benefits – and the board, when they saw an opportunity in the market and decided to branch out into pastures new.

The opening event was hosted in the premises on Foley Trading Estate where Mr Norman gave a speech to guests and wished the new venture well.

The new company Pink Mountain Ltd imports, packages, labels and distributes a range of products, from food grade salt to lamps, bath salts and horse licks.

Pink Mountain Ltd is supported by, and works closely with, several county businesses such as Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors and Wiggly Wiggers which has out-sourced part of its online mail order business to the new premises.

The early success of this company has resulted in increased employment, and has created a job for a previous trainee from the Pack-IT training programme and also one person who was long-term unemployed.

A social enterprise encourages independence and moves away from social dependency models. In addition, it provides wider benefit to the community through growing the small business industry and developing employment opportunities.

Laura Ferguson, one of the directors at Pink Mountain, said: "Social enterprise makes a real and sustainable difference in people’s lives both in terms of local business growth and social impact.

"Pink Mountain is a social business that delivers benefits in a self-sustaining way by using its revenues to finance activities that generate social benefit.

"In such a time of austerity and cuts, looking out for each other has never been more important."