A St Albans based enterprise agency has celebrated its 30th anniversary.

More than 150 people gathered to mark St Albans Enterprise Agency’s (STANTA) birthday at the Old Albanian Sports club on May 15.

St Albans MP Anne Main joined the city’s Mayor, Annie Brewster and new Harpenden Mayor, Mary Maynard to cut the cake, which featured STANTA’s new logo.

STANTA is a not-for-profit company which has been providing free business advice to start-ups and small businesses in the district for 30 years and has helped more than 6,000 people in that time to set up a vast array of businesses: from cake making, to consultants offering coaching through to lawyers and lots of shops and café owners .

Sharon Robinson from Seymour Styles came for a business advice session last year and said: “I just had to come along tonight as I will never forget the help that Mel and Ginny gave me when I attended to discuss my prom dress business. “It is now a successful business and I am going to expand into dresses for Ascot and other such events, aimed at a broader age group. I can’t thank them enough”.

Ian Dunn, Chairman, thanked sponsors Barclays Bank, Mercer & Hole Accountants, St Albans District Council and Allied Irish Bank (GB) for their support.

As well as his fellow non-Executive Directors, who are all unpaid volunteers and Peter Burton, a founding director.

Particular thanks were expressed to the project team, Sophie Burnett of PA Business Support, Cathy Phillips and Aarti Parmar, who have created the new branding and website.