Member Article

Business support programme for the North East

A new business support programme known as ‘Business Support in the North East’ unveiled in late 2011 enables local Enterprise Agencies to offer a range of support to people to develop vital business skills and create new businesses.

The project is being part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £1.07m ERDF investment. Working in a consortium led by North East Enterprise Agencies Ltd (NEEAL) local Enterprise and Development Agencies in the North East have matched this ERDF investment with £1.07m of their own funds.

There are several variations of support available throughout the programme including ‘Enterprise Coaching’ offering assistance to emerging pre start businesses including those with the potential for high growth ensuring they grow and develop thus contributing to the economic development of the local area.

Enterprise Agency NBSL offer support to individuals via their Business Advice and Outreach Centers. In Berwick the Business Advice Centre is raising awareness of self employment and how to start a business through a series of workshops. These initial workshops are offered alongside business skills development workshops and intensive one to one coaching with an experienced Business Adviser.

In Berwick and the surrounding area a variety of business idea’s are being nurtured and grown including a number of serviced based enterprises who have the potential to offer a business to business provision. This in turn will assist in the stimulation of the local economy.

A wide portfolio of support is sought and provided free of charge to the individual under the programme including idea development, legal aspects including rules and regulations of self employment, sourcing funding, skills development such as financial management, book keeping and marketing and promotion, product protection, financial forecasting, business planning and action planning.

Those considering self employment who wish to enquire about support they can receive from the ‘Business Support in the North East’ programme should visit the Berwick Business Advice Centre located in the Berwick WorkSpace or alternatively telephone the Centre on 01289 330805 or email Berwick@nbsl.org.uk . Further information about the services offered by NBSL can be found at www.nbsl.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Julia Weldon .