Sara Davies MBE celebrates "inspirational achievements" of North East entrepreneurs

Dragons’ Den star and founder of Crafter’s Companion, Sara Davies MBE, joined 99 North East entrepreneurs at Crowne Plaza Newcastle to celebrate the creation of 99 new jobs and 58 new, high growth businesses in the region.

Graduates of the High Potential Startups business accelerator programme, delivered by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), the entrepreneurs joined Sara Davies MBE at a celebratory event with members of the wider North East business and startup community.  

Of the pre-start entrepreneurs that joined the programme in the thick of the pandemic, 25 have already begun trading and a further 33 have incorporated new businesses. To date, the new businesses have generated £2.7m in turnover and created 99 new jobs across the region. 

Colin Bell, business and sector growth director at the North East LEP, said: “Starting a business can be an intimidating prospect, but through High Potential Startups we were able to support participants to build robust and resilient business models.

“The result has been the creation of 58 new, ambitious, and high growth North East startup businesses, and 99 new jobs.”  

Some of the businesses that took part in High Potential Startups include South Shields-based OGEL, which has created the only patented building system in the world that uses recycled plastic.

bcausam, which has offices in Northumberland and Leeds, helps charities maximise their impact and fundraising potential using newly developed technology. The company is aiming to employ more staff at its Newcastle and Leeds offices before expanding into the US.  

And clothing brand Saint Belle, created by Northumbria University graduate Isabella Dryden, is now stocked in Fenwick and will launch a new children’s wear collection in 2022. 

Sara Davies MBE said: “It’s been so inspiring to meet the High Potential Startups entrepreneurs and hear how the programme has helped them build their own high growth businesses. 

“Encouraging and nurturing business startups is vital for a growing economy, so it’s great to see my home region flying the flag for entrepreneurship. I wish every single business all the success for the future.”