A 30-year-old man from Wirral has become one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs after setting up a luxury hamper business during lockdown.

Primary school teacher Sam Black created Coastal Hampers in Newcastle in 2020, and after phenomenal success, he has now expanded by setting up Mersey Hampers.

The concept revolves around supporting local independent businesses by including their artisan products in luxury hampers that can be purchased for loved ones, employees, clients, or customers.

 He has now expanded by setting up Mersey Hampers (Image: Supplied) Coastal Hampers became such a success in the North East that massive orders came in from the likes of the NHS, Newcastle United FC, Newcastle University, Durham University, Morgan Sindall, and many others.

The overwhelming success of the business resulted in Mr Black becoming a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards’ Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

He is now bringing the concept back home to Merseyside.

Through Mersey Hampers, he and his childhood friend, Michael Wright, are now offering similar hampers in Merseyside and beyond.

Coastal Hampers became a success in the North East (Image: Supplied) Sam said: "It’s been an amazing journey and something that’s completely changed my life.

"I went to university in Newcastle and went on to become a primary school teacher there.

"When lockdowns hit, I needed to earn some extra cash, and after seeing ‘support local businesses’ everywhere, I decided to sell Christmas hampers on their behalf.

"It then exploded beyond my wildest imagination."

He added: "I was making the hampers from home, and as they increased in popularity, I could barely keep up with orders — then I got the call from the NHS about ordering 10,000.

"I had to work quickly, employ staff, and get business premises.

"This then led to supplying huge corporates, including universities, football clubs, and blue-chip companies.

"I only set it up as a side hustle during lockdown, but it changed my life."

The business also proved to be a game-changer for the local independents included in the hampers, with orders of tens of thousands of their products.

The hampers feature items from local suppliers (Image: Supplied) Mr Black now aims to have the same huge impact throughout Merseyside and nationwide through Mersey Hampers.

He said: "The real magic is how this supports local independent businesses.

"After Coastal Hampers took off in the North East with the huge orders, I’d return to the suppliers and see that they’d expanded their businesses, got new premises, and expanded too.

"It was so great to see that it had helped them in a big way too."

Mr Black is excited to bring this venture back home to Merseyside and is looking forward to showcasing the many delights of local suppliers.

Just in time for Christmas, he aims to encourage large companies to invest in gifts for their employees, clients, and customers that will change the lives of small businesses in the process.

Mersey Hampers is now live and trading, with an online shop taking orders and offering delivery throughout Merseyside and nationwide.