A FORMER Machynlleth teacher who left her job to set up her own business has been shortlisted for an award by the Prince of Wales.

After taking early retirement from her job at Machynlleth Primary School, Llinos Griffiths, 52, made the decision to start up her own business selling soaps made by hand with natural ingredients.

Her soaps, Dyfi Naturals, are on sale across mid and north Wales, including in shops, markets and craft fairs in Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Tywyn, and Welshpool.

“I recently set up a small business with the help of Prime Cymru, which is one of the Prince’s Charities, and I have just found out I have been shortlisted for a Prime Cymru Award for the ‘best green business’,” Llinos told the Cambrian News. “I am absolutely delighted."

Prime Cymru was founded by the Prince of Wales in 2001 in response to letters he had received from many people saying they felt that, after the age of 50, they were on the ‘scrap heap’ and had faced insurmountable problems in securing paid employment because of their age.

Llinos added: “I make my soaps here and sell them in shops, craft fairs and markets in the local areas. I also sell them through Facebook. I was a primary school teacher in Machynlleth for the last 16 years.

“Through my travelling, I have always bought soaps from craft fairs for myself. A few years ago, I started to make them as a hobby for family and friends."

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