AN ENTERTAINER who set up shop in his home city thanks to help from the Prince’s Trust is in demand across the country.

Jimi Loveridge, a singer and pianist from Bromyard Terrace, St John’s, Worcester, applied for help from the trust in a bid to establish himself in the entertainment industry, by buying equipment and including a car to get him to shows.

And the help has enabled him to truly set up at home, having previously struggled to settle in Mallorca.

“I have been doing entertainment on and off since I was 14 years old,” he said.

“When I was 19, I went to Mallorca for the first time and worked as a hotel entertainer performing musicals and running the daily sports activities.

“I went back to Mallorca in 2005 and worked as a karaoke DJ, went again in 2009 as a karaoke DJ and in 2010 I was again in Mallorca as a self-employed entertainer doing everything from pub quizzes, karaoke nights, acoustic guitar gigs, cabaret and even some DJ-ing.”

But it is his desire to settle that has forced the 31-year-old to put down roots.

“Travelling back and forth to Mallorca was tiring and it didn’t quite feel like home, so I made the decision to stay put and set up business for the long term,” he said.

“It’s taken time to get to where I am today but with my feet firmly on the ground I know I can make the career I am looking for, thanks to the help of the Prince’s Trust, and my weird and wonderful family and friends.”

He received a £1,800 low-interest loan and the help of business mentor Richard Morris through the trust, and four months after setting up business in Worcester and playing at venues in and around the city, he now has Lark Entertainment – an entertainment agency in South Wales – booking gigs for him.

The latest show played was a Showcase concert, which raised money for the Prince’s Trust.

“It was a great night and a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents and some wonderful video and audio captured for future promotion by Pete Stanhope, of Vertex Videography,” Mr Loveridge added.

He first learnt to play Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen from memory when he was nine and got his first taste of being a professional pianist when he played a wedding, aged 17.

Now, the performer has an ever-growing repertoire of two-hour piano and vocal sets and three-hour piano instrumental sets consisting of blues, jazz, swing, rock, rock and roll and ballads.

He has also recently put together a wedding package of a two-hour piano and vocal gig, and a four-hour disco, for £500.

For more information, visit jimiloveridge.com, or for details on the Prince’s Trust, see princestrust.org.uk or call 0800 842842.