Member Article

Launch Pad â??Den' prepares budding entrepreneurs to meet the dragons

Two North East initiatives have joined forces to boost the enterprise prospects of people in Gateshead. Launch Pad, the initiative created by The North East Enterprise Bond to transform the enterprise culture across the region, has joined forces with Gateshead Council in a two-month partnership, which aims to encourage entrepreneurs living in the Dunston and Teams neighbourhoods.

The Launch Pad, a vehicle complete with a range of hi-tech facilities, will be used as an eye-catching platform for Gateshead Council’s ‘Not All Dragons Bite’ scheme.

The scheme launched on Monday 14 January at BALTIC. It will see Launch Pad take the word of enterprise directly into the Dunston and Teams communities, raising awareness of ‘Not All Dragons Bite’ and hosting one-to-one sessions for anyone wishing to enter the Den in March.

Unlike their TV counterparts, the Gateshead ‘Dragons’ will be friendly and supportive, offering a practical support and expertise as an alternative to cash. This package is aimed at giving a good start to businesses and could include legal advice, marketing, guidance and mentoring.

Diane Fisher-Naylor, Chief Executive of The North East Enterprise Bond, said: “We are delighted to be partnering Gateshead Council by providing a striking platform from which to encourage enterprise and support creative ideas within the community. Our ethos is all about inspiring entrepreneurial thinking and influencing the number of business start-ups in the North East, and the Dragon’s Den concept is a really exciting and stimulating way of helping to achieve this.”

For further information about ‘Not all Dragons Bite’, please contact Kay Robson at KayRobson@Gateshead.Gov.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .