Support helps hundreds start North East ventures

A North East initiative has helped hundreds of residents launch new businesses.

Almost 700 people across the North East Combined Authority area set up a business last year with support from a 15-strong consortium of local business support organisations, including North East BIC. 

The consortium, coordinated by North East Enterprise Agencies Ltd (NEEAL), offered tailored support through over 50 experienced business advisers, providing guidance from idea stage through to launch.

The new ventures are expected to generate a combined first-year turnover of £42 million and attracted nearly £7 million in personal investment.

Over half of the businesses were women-led, well above the national average of 19.1 per cent, while 15 per cent were founded by people with disabilities or health conditions and seven per cent by individuals from BME backgrounds. 

Paul McEldon OBE, chief executive of the North East BIC and chair of NEEAL, said: “This is a fantastic example of how partnership working can make business support more accessible and impactful for everyone.

“By bringing together organisations from Berwick to Barnard Castle, we’ve been able to provide in-person, expert support to people in communities across the region, and the results back it up.

“It has provided real opportunities for people across the region, allowing people to realise their dreams of becoming their own boss while creating jobs. 

“It has had such a positive impact.”

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme demonstrates the potential of collaborative support to grow the region’s private sector, which currently stands at 166,000 businesses, the smallest of any UK region. 

Coordinators say continuing this approach will help more residents turn ideas into sustainable businesses and support a “North East economy which works for all” and advances “sustainable economic development”.

Sophie Milliken MBE, a BIC board member and chief executive of Moja Group, added: “The expansion of women-led enterprises represents a critical lever for advancing inclusive and sustainable economic development. 

“Women-owned businesses often exhibit distinct strategic priorities – such as social responsibility, community engagement, and inclusive employment practices – that align closely with what we need to do, to develop the economy of the North East.”

Paul added: “Over the past 12 months, we’ve demonstrated how working in partnership can help ensure the North East remains a place where everyone feels empowered to set up and grow a business, no matter what their background or social status.

“We’ve demonstrated that, if you have a desire and an idea to set up a new business, we can point you in the direction of someone locally, with the experience required to help guide you through the process and turn your dream into a reality.

“It’s been a fantastic project and hopefully we can continue building on this over the next 12 months as we continue to reach out to and support people in communities across the region.” 

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