Northumberland businesses set for recovery boost with £1.5m funding

A new support programme to help Northumberland SMEs to recover and restart after the disruption of COVID-19 has been unveiled.

Northumberland County Council has secured a grant of £1.5m from The North of Tyne Combined Authority’s COVID-19 Capacity Fund to launch a new business support programme.

The Northumberland Covid Business Response (NCBRP) programme which will be delivered by Advance Northumberland on behalf of the council and the Northumberland Business Hub.

The programme will focus on two areas: a ‘business advantage’ element which will offer 1-2-1 coaching to look at new methods of delivery, and a digital element to boost the digital capabilities of SMEs.

Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council and North of Tyne Combined Authority Cabinet member for place and productivity, said: “I am very pleased to see these programmes get underway - targeting some of the key areas of business which have suffered so badly over recent months, and supporting them as lockdown measures begin to ease.

“Through our Northumberland Business Hub we are working on many fronts to do everything that we can to support businesses in the county through these challenging times - bringing in as much funding and support as we can, and providing specialist services and advice locally to deal with the issues that are being faced.”