Partner Article

Start-up activity buoyed by tax break

THE organisation which delivers Business Link is hoping to increase the number of start-ups it supports and advises in the region, following the announcement of tax breaks for small businesses by the Chancellor this week.

George Osborne this week announced that start-ups outside the south are to be offered a £5,000 tax break on national insurance contributions for each of the first 10 people they employ.

Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business & Enterprise North East (BE-NE), which delivers contracts including Business Link, the North East England Investment Centre (NEEIC) and UKTI services in the region, said he hoped the organisation could go on to help even more businesses to start, succeed and grow, on the back of the new policy.

He said: “With news that small businesses outside of London will benefit from the lowest ever rates of corporation tax, it has never been a more opportune time for people in the North East to start up their own businesses.

“We are committed to providing the very best service for individuals and businesses in the region through each of our contracts and to doing everything possible to ensure that every North east business, regardless of size or sector, receives the support it needs to start, succeed and go on to achieve sustainable growth.”

Business Link helped to create over 4,500 new businesses between April 2009 – March 2010.

This was an increase of over 16% from 2007-2008 and over4% up on last year.

In total the service has helped over 33,200 businesses and individuals to start, develop and grow, a 21% increase in market penetration over the past three years.

Meanwhile, over 90% of customers are reported to be satisfied or very satisfied with the service they have received.

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