Member Article

Newcastle-based female entrepreneurs launch PR company to support young North East companies

A young North East woman whose career started in a call centre, has taken communication to a whole new level, by starting her own PR company.

English graduate Amy Armstrong, from Newcastle, joined energy efficiency company Eaga in 2009 – but was forced to re-think her career plans after being made redundant.

With help from the eaga Trust, Amy went back to university and has now launched her own business, helping raise the profile of a variety of young companies in the region.

The eaga Trust was set up to promote employment, employee ownership and engagement in the workplace and now offers support to some 5,600 registered members who worked for eaga from January 11th 2000 until April 21st 2011, when it was sold to Carillion plc.

The Trust offers its members a range of benefits, including self-development courses, Business start-up loans and guidance for those planning to start their own employee-owned businesses.

Through its Skill-builder fund, which offers registered members a £1000 grantfor work-related training, Amy was able to study for a Masters degree in PR at the University of Sunderland.

While there, she met fellow student Marie Donnelly, 25 and, after graduating, the pair launched Sunderland-based M.A.D Communications.

Amy said: “The Trust’s help has been invaluable because, along with the £1000 Skill-builder, they gave me a Business funding loan towards computers and office equipment to help me set up my new office

“Without that financial support it would have taken Marie and I a lot longer to get the equipment we needed.

“Having just celebrated our first year in business, we have a strong and varied client base and we are going from strength to strength.”

Chief Operating Officer at the eaga Trust, Richard Marr, said: “It has been a genuine pleasure to help Amy.

“Not only has she shown a clear sense of direction but she has put our support to excellent use and now has an embryo business of which she can be very proud.”