A Loch Lomond-based entrepreneur who set up her own electric bike company has told how studying climate change has helped to power her business and spark sustainable growth in her community.

Erin Charters, 24, is using her degree in Environmental Science at the Open University to support her Cycle Luss venture, with a module on renewable energy acting as the catalyst for the bike hire firm.

The young mum said: “I started Cycle Luss with the idea of wanting to make an impact and wanting to give people the opportunity to experience what electric power is.

“I have always been quite sporty and enjoyed riding bikes and then I came across e-bikes when I was studying a renewable energy module. We were talking about changing lifestyle habits.

“The OU has really helped me to understand about renewable energy and the benefits of electric power and I wanted to use that and set up a business here where I live.

"I’m surrounded by beautiful mountains, hills and the loch and this is what I want to preserve. I want to preserve this nice area so it can be here for millions of years to come.”

Erin was recently awarded a council grant in order to grow her business and encourage more people to use electric bikes as a form of transport, and she says that studying with the OU has given her the entrepreneurial skills and the confidence needed to push herself and her business forward.

She said: “My studies have revolved around climate change and other really important problems. I was able to show the local council that Cycle Luss was a solution to these problems even though it’s on quite a small scale.

"I’ve had to really build relationships with tour companies, hotel managers and various other businesses and I think I was able to do that because of the communication skills that I learned during my OU course.

“The course focuses on learning about the environment, the problems and solutions, and I don’t just want to study that – I want to do that as well and to share my knowledge.

"I think studying gave me the confidence to start speaking up about what I’ve learned over the last few years and change people’s perceptions of climate change.”

Erin is in her final year of studying and has already started to apply for graduate jobs within the environmental industry.

It’s her ambition to continue raising awareness of the importance of climate change – for her son and future generations.

“I’d like to leave behind a world where we’re all thriving in terms of the air that we breath and where the ecosystems are not causing bio-diversity loss," she added.

"I think everyone can all play their part, it’s just about getting the conversation started, it’s about climate change and speaking about what we should do individually and what we should then do as a family or as friends and then furthermore in your community.”