Scheme to rejuvenuate Northumberland economy wins £1.35 investment

A scheme to boost enterprise and economic growth in Northumberland has received £1.35m investment.

Two new programmes will give entrepreneurs the support to start new businesses and also provide high quality coaching to drive accelerated growth in established businesses.

A major investment of £1.35m has been made, with Arch and Northumberland County Council providing half of the funds, and half part-funded by the North East European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Competitiveness Programme 2007 – 2013.

Peter McIntyre, Arch Group Managing Director said “We firmly believe our investment will help the Northumberland economy to grow as innovative enterprises and dynamic new businesses ideas are supported to realise their potential.

“European investment will help us deliver these services.

“The programme will help to kick-start enterprise support as well as providing valuable help to new businesses.

“Importantly, as they establish and grow they have the potential to support innovation, drive our economy and create jobs for local residents.

“That’s great news for them, but also for Northumberland”.

One service is “Business Northumberland” a programme which will provide business workshops on the legal and practical aspects of establishing a business, mentoring support from a bank of local business-people as well as business information and guidance.

Business Northumberland will focus on the South East of the county with additional services to be commissioned to service rural areas. “

The services will be delivered by BE Group, a national business services specialist viia a local team.

A separate contract has been drawn up to provide business coaching to companies with ambitions to expand, this will be delivered by Oxford Innovation, a national provider with a base in Northumberland.

Suzanne McCreedy, national services director at BE Group commented “This is a fantastic programme and we’re extremely proud to be part of the delivery which will make a real difference to the Northumberland economy.

“This contract will allow us to bring our knowledge and expertise, gained from our strong track-record in business improvement, to help businesses across Northumberland to start and succeed.”

The ‘Business Northumberland’ project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013, which is bringing over £300m into North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support.

Neil Foster, Deputy Chair of the North East England Local Management Committee (LMC) which engages partners in the overseeing of the strategic delivery of the ERDF Programme in the North East said: “ERDF investment will ensure a specialist package of enterprise and business support will be delivered that will not only create more businesses but stronger businesses through a focus on survival and growth which will have a positive impact on local economic growth in Northumberland.”