New partnership helps Northumberland entrepreneurs start their own businesses

The Northumberland Small Business Service has announced a new strategic partnership with Ponteland based business centre to support individuals across the County to pursue a business idea and start their own business.

The SME Centre of Excellence who have already supported over 12,000 businesses across Northumberland will be delivering expert advice and support as part of the Northumberland Small Business Service.

The Enterprise & Support element of the programme is focussed on providing pre and start up businesses a catalogue of support to help them start a business as well as navigate their first year of trading. The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS), is delivered by Advance Northumberland delivering on behalf of Northumberland County Council.

The project is part funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority Investment Fund and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as the lead authority.

The programme offers a range of support for businesses looking to grow, farm enterprises looking to diversify and individuals looking to start a business across Northumberland but predominantly in the rural areas.

There is also access to a £2m rural capital Grant Investment Fund which will support eligible businesses in rural areas with clear growth plans to access direct capital investment to expand productive capacity or diversify into new markets or products. The Enterprise & Start Up strand of the service is being delivered until March 2025.

The support is specifically geared towards those in their first year of trading as well as anyone in Northumberland aged 16+ who is considering starting a business or pursuing a business idea. The offer includes industry expert-led workshops and 1-2-1 support delivered by experts from the SME Centre of Excellence.

Those on the programme can also benefit from large scale events which will see not only keynote speakers delivering seminars but encourage and help build a strong business community for those starting out and looking to make meaningful business connections.

Programme Manager Lucy Evermore commented: “It’s great to be able to offer start ups and those inspired to start a business invaluable support. Northumberland is a hub of creativity and drive and to be able to support these businesses will be so beneficial not only to the individual but to the economy as well.

“I am really looking forward to working with Ammar and the team over the next few years to provide that invaluable support helping startups to navigate their business journey”.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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