A SOCIAL enterprise which aims to use coffee to help people get into work and their start their own companies are set to open up at Firstsite.

Gallery bosses will be opening a new cafe in the foyer with We Walk the Line, a venture which began in London in 2013 to try and nurture young people's entrepreneurial spirit.

The group's aim is to work with and employ people looking for a chance to get into employment, develop their business and barista skill and empower them to become their own boss.

We Walk the Line is working on a project with Kesed Church in Southway and Colchester Jobcentre Plus called Wake Up and Smell the Coffee which trains people who have been marginalised to develop employment skills while working in the artisan coffee industry.

This will be the first coffee bar the group has opened outside of the capital and co-founder Mat Corbett said: "The demand for We Walk the Line to head out of London has been tremendous since we started and I am excited to have the opportunity to return to the community which first inspired me to improve the life chances of those excluded in society."

As well as coffee, an array of teas will be served along with cakes from Colchester-based Good Souls Bakery and Unique Bakes.

Colchester mayor Julie Young has been the driving force in attracting the team to Colchester and will be serving the first shot of espresso at the cafe next Thursday,

She said: "Our town is known for bringing people and businesses together to share innovative ideas, and coffee houses certainly play an important role in fostering collaboration, political debate and supporting civic engagement."

Firstsite director, Sally Shaw said: "We are delighted to be the first gallery to work with We Walk the Line.

"In addition to providing delicious coffee and cake for our visitors, it is wonderful to think the gallery is part of this brilliant social enterprise project, providing a vital stepping stone to help local, young people into work.

"This chimes perfectly with the gallery’s values, creating a place which can not just illuminate the world, but change people’s lives."