smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

A Man’s World

The issue of gender inequality in the workplace never goes...
Have your say »

RSS

Start-ups receive support in Gateshead

Apr 09 2009

Gateshead Council has unveiled a £1 million drive to support start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Inspire Gateshead scheme has received £525,000 from the European Regional Development Fund's Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, with the remaining finance coming from the council's Working Neighbourhood Fund.

Local entrepreneurs, especially those from disadvantaged areas, will be encouraged to start their own companies under the initiative, while existing small firms will be offered a range of support services.

Mick Henry, the leader of Gateshead Council, explains: 'We will enhance our offer to small and medium-sized businesses by improving access to specialist support through four business incubation units. This tailored element of specialist support will create new SMEs and jobs.'

Lesley Calder, head of European and skills strategy at regional development agency One North East, reveals that the scheme will involve bringing workshops and enterprise events to the local community.

Recently, £2.4 million was made available to small firms in the north-east through the Innovation Vouchers project, which aims to build links between businesses and academic institutions.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Save money by buying Original HP Toner Cartridges

Independent research has confirmed that HP black toner cartridges continue to outperform remanufactured toner cartridges. Why waster time and money by unnecessarily re-printing pages? Original HP toner cartridges are more reliable and value than compatible toners. Find out more here

Finance for your Franchise

HSBC’s dedicated franchise team will help you develop your franchise business to its full potential and provide a bespoke finance package to meet your individual requirements. To find out how HSBC can help your franchise business, click here

Get started with Barclays Business Banking

Choose from 3 great Start-up packages offering a range of business and banking solutions, from cashflow management software (QuickBooks or Sage) to VAT management solution. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online.

Prize Draw

IT Trends for SMEs in 2010

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with network support company Lifeline IT to ensure your business' IT systems are in the best shape for 2010. Enter our short survey and your company could win two hours of free IT consultancy. To take part click here

Polls

Latest News

The UK economy shows signs of a bounce back

Bounce back for UK economy

Business output grew in all UK regions last month, with the exception of Northern Ireland.

Richard Branson voted top business guru

Despite their omnipresence on our screens, TV celebrity entrepreneurs would be a less popular ‘hire’ than Richard Branson for a business guru.

SMEs in the East remain optimistic

Small businesses in the East of England are positive about the future, but say credit availability is still a problem, according to research from the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

SMEs triumph over adversity

Over 40 per cent of small businesses in the UK have developed creative solutions to strengthen their business during the downturn, research has found.

Entrepreneurs take the lead

Entrepreneurs are more likely to lead the country out of recession than the government, according to research by The Entrepreneurs Board, a business networking organisation.

Recession is catalyst for SME inventions

The recession appears to be the mother of innovation, according to intellectual property (IP) law firm Gill Jennings & Every.

'Recession at an end,' says ICAEW

Confidence among business professionals has turned positive for the first time in two years, indicating the recession may be at an end, says a survey.

Business Link comes under fire

The quality of service offered by Business Link, the government agency for small and growing businesses, is not consistent, say SMEs.

Tradesmen at recession breaking point

A large proportion of tradesmen (plumbers, electricians and carpenters) don’t expect to be in business by the end of the year.

TV show to give thousands to SMEs

Is your area rich in innovation but poor in cash? If so, it could be eligible for a £400,000 injection of start-up funding and a place on TV.

Unemployment highest in 14 years

Unemployment rose by 281,000 over the three months to May to 2.38 million – the highest level since 1995.

Guides & Tips

Stephen Casey has fortified his temporary structures business

Rising star: Stephen Casey

Stephen Casey has built his temporary structures company Accio Group into a solid business with a revenue of £2.7 million.

How to start a business

In the second part of our guide on starting a business in 2010, we show you how to write a business plan and where to get funding.

Rising Star: Rosalind Rathouse

Rosalind Rathouse quit teaching and started her company Cookery School six years ago. She has since proved that launching the business was no half-baked idea.

Don't Miss

Lisa Kendrick, co-founder of Liquid Accounts

Rising Star: Lisa Kendrick

Lisa Kendrick co-founded software accountancy firm Liquid Accounts five years ago and recently bagged £300,000 through a government fund aimed at female entrepreneurs.

Richard Stobart: thinking outside the box

Rising Star: Richard Stobart

Richard Stobart founded web and software development consultancy Unboxed Consulting four years ago. The company now has a turnover of £1.6 million.

Sanchita Saha, founder of CitySocialising.com

Rising Star: Sanchita Saha

Sanchita Saha talks about her hopes for the networking site she founded, CitySocialising.com

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.