Member Article

Go Wansbeck sees results

Nearly 200 businesses - ranging from a business providing Northumberland safaris to a company nominated for a top technology award - have been helped by Go Wansbeck in its first year.

Go Wansbeck has been allocated £16.5m by the government in its first four years to create a more enterprising culture, support local business growth and attract new investment and employment opportunities for people living in the Wansbeck district.

A survey carried out with businesses elsewhere in the North East revealed that nearly a third would consider setting up in Wansbeck. Before the establishment of Go Wansbeck only a fifth would have considered doing so, according to a survey conducted at the time.

Keith Raine, Go Wansbeck programme manager, said: “The survey has shown there is a substantial increase in the number of people who now have a positive feeling about the area. That has risen from 43% in the previous research to 71% now. This is obviously a big change in attitude, but we know there is still a great deal of hard work to do.”

Amongst the many successes over the past year are the development of six major units on the Ashwood Business Park with well-known local businessman Alan Ferguson; the growth of Raytec Ltd - a lighting manufacturer which has been nominated for the ‘Orange Best use of Technology Award’; the setting up of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours by a former teacher; and the continued success of Twins UK.

Keith said: “It is so exciting to work with such a diverse range of businesses. Thanks to television programmes like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, going into business is no longer seen as unfashionable or dull. Turning a great idea into a successful business is a lot tougher than one of Sir Alan Sugar’s tasks, but that’s where we come in.”

For more information about the programme visit www.gowansbeck.co.uk.

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