An upcycling facility to repair and then sell high value goods at one of the city's recycling centres has received financial backing following an internal competition for Cardiff Council staff.

The Introduction to Entrepreneurship Award, run by the internal training provider the Cardiff Council Academy, allows staff to develop skills such as market research and creating an effective Business Plan for ideas which raise revenue for Council service areas. The course culminates with a pitch to a panel of judges for a £1000 investment towards implementing the idea.

The latest winner is Daniel Fegan, a Customer Service Representative at Cardiff Council's call-centre "Connect to Cardiff", who successfully pitched an idea to create an upcycling venture called "The Shed" at Bessemer Close recycling centre.

Daniel explained to the judges how certain high-value goods taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre could be repaired and then eventually sold. He also outlined his plans to run a repair service at the centre so that residents had the option of having broken goods repaired for an agreed fee.

Daniel said: "Instead of goods ending up on landfill sites, we're looking to retail them in a shop called The Shed which would be available to all residents and visitors. I've really enjoyed this course run by the Academy as it's allowed me to develop new skills such as carrying out market research which I wouldn't have learnt through my day-to-day job."

Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, Cllr Chris Weaver said: "As one of the judges I had the difficult job of picking a winner. I have to say we were very impressed with the quality of all the presentations made to us and they will all continue to provide food for thought moving forwards. But there can only be one winner and we felt that Daniel's idea was the most well-rounded and achievable. I would like to extend my congratulations to Daniel and all those who competed for this Introduction to Entrepreneurship Award."

The Bute Park Nurseries and Cardiff Motocross Track have been previous recipients of the £1000 investment.