Partner Article

HRH Prince Charles set to visit Middlesbrough today

This morning HRH The Prince of Wales will be in Teesside to witness the work his charity Business in the Community has done to stimulate growth and regeneration in the area.

Bdaily will be attending the event at The Corner Emporium, Middlesbrough, a new business incubation space launched by Business in the Community, Greggs, Middlesbrough Council and the West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust.

The new project will fill up vacant units on the high street by supporting 10 start-up entrepreneurs with 6 months free trading to help them get their business off the ground.

Craig Warkman, Corporate Project Manager at Greggs and leader of the Corner Emporium project hopes that the positive work in the community will catalyse further major business support in areas of greatest social and economic need throughout the UK.

Individuals from the local business community will now be seconded into local communities to understand local need, build relationships and stimulate growth.

Craig commented: “The Corner Emporium is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when businesses collaborate effectively with the community to meet local needs.

“We know this works because it has already been done in Redcar, and it will provide entrepreneurs with the practical support they need to start a business in challenging economic times and bring some vibrancy and life back to the High Street in Middlesbrough.”

The Busienss Connectors Programme has already been rolled out across the UK involving senior individuals from 11 organisations, including BT, Sainsbury’s and Greggs. The scheme aims to train and place 1,000 business connectors in areas across the UK over the next 3 years.

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said: “Businesses have a unique ability to transform communities and our experience over the past 30 years has shown us that the most effective way to develop long-term sustainable partnerships is by putting a person on the ground to match needs with resource.

“Business Connectors are the key to scaling this important work. We hope others will be inspired by what has been achieved here in Middlesbrough and replicate the activity in their own communities.”

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