Going on tour is part of a long term career path for a young Shetland group seeking fame and fortune with the help of a business development grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Black Bic Biro have surprised everyone with the amount of interest they have generated within the music industry since they supported Scotland's most successful band Franz Ferdinand at Whiteness public hall last September.

That concert saw the release of an EP recorded at manager Marvin Smith's home studio in Aith, which has sent ripples from Shetland through Glasgow to the offices of record labels and music lawyers in London.

Two concerts in Glasgow have confirmed interest from top London music law firm SSB, who represent Sugababes, Keane and Prodigy, as well as several music publishers and management groups. They are now in the top two per cent of up and coming bands, according to the industry.

They were picked as Unsigned Heroes on Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway Show, and their original song "Peggy Sue" off their first EP has received national airplay on Radio One.

To build on this interest without signing their futures away on a premature recording contract, the trio of Reuben Quinn (guitar/vocals), Jim Bevington (bass) and John Gair (drums) have set up their own company Yell Sound Music.

HIE have awarded Yell Sound a £3,000 Business Start Up grant to help towards taking the band towards the next level in their career, which they hope will involve a development deal with a publishing company.

The money will help towards the considerable expense the band face with travel, accommodation, publicity, rehearsal and recording time as they make a bid for a development deal.

The next challenge for the teenagers is to build up a following on the UK mainland, with their first step being a mini tour of Scotland's major cities in June.

Manager Marvin Smith is very excited about Black Bic Biro's prospects, saying this is the first time any Shetland group playing non traditional music has created such a stir.

"If anyone has a chance of success in the highly competitive rock industry it's these three boys," Mr Smith said. "It's not just about writing great songs and playing them well. You need organisation, discipline and a lot of determination.

"They take what they do extremely seriously and I have been constantly impressed not just with the quality of the music they produce, but by their level-headed attitude."

HIE development manager Mhari Pottinger said everyone was very excited about helping the band on their way.

"HIE are delighted to be supporting this talented band. These three youngsters have demonstrated they have enormous creative talent combined with a sound business sense and a structured approach to an industry in which these factors are essential for success," Ms Pottinger said.

"Shetland is developing a growing reputation for the strength of its creative industries sector and Black Bic Biro have demonstrated they have the potential to play a significant role in this. We hope they'll go to the very top.

"I can't think of a better way of raising the profile of Shetland, the Highlands and Islands and the creativity that abounds in this part of the world."

Jim Bevington said the band were grateful for the support they had been given. "This time last year we would never have thought this would be happening and we'd like to thank everyone who has helped us get this far already."

The Scottish Government has said that the creative industries are a key sector for growth in their economic strategy, and HIE has recently identified it as a priority for future support.