Partner Article

North East businesses learn to look after their own

In a bid to encourage businesses to trade locally, a North East businesswoman is driving forward a campaign which has already seen £213,000 worth of business transferred into the region it its first two weeks.

Sarah Nixon, the owner of Gateshead-based Recruitment Now started the not-for-profit Keep it Local campaign after attending a procurement seminar back in December.

After looking at spending by her own business, she realised that only 51% was going to businesses in the North East region and decided to do something about it.

She said: “I was genuinely shocked when I realised what we were spending outside the region at a time when the local economy is crying out for growth

“After we had looked at our own spending commitments at Recruitment Now, I realised this was an issue that could be actively promoted across the North East business community.”

The campaign aims to encourage companies to look at what they spend and where.

They say it’s not all about spending big as even something like a monthly stationery bill can add up to a significant amount over the financial year.

The campaign cost nothing to support and those who are interested are simply asked to show some commitment to giving orders to other North East businesses.

She added: “Since the launch of our Twitter page two weeks ago, things have really taken off. We already have 153 followers, with 21 companies actively signed up and I have been advised that at least £213,000 worth of business has been done between our members, keeping that money right here in the region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .