Member Article

North East startups set to benefit from new TEDCO programme

TEDCO Business Support Ltd has announced a new startup initiative to build on the success of the Ready for Business programme in the North East.

The Start & Grow programme has been launched across the region with the aim of supporting budding entrepreneurs in their ambitions for sustainable growth and job creation.

Start and Grow will replace the Ready for Business programme in the region following a successful three years in which 771 new businesses were created in the region and an additional 724 jobs have been delivered.

The Start & Grow programme offers access to support that includes: one to one advice, business skills training, mentoring, access to finance support and business planning, giving the participants the chance to develop their ideas and start their businesses with the best possible chance of success and will be delivered in the region by start up support agency, TEDCO Business Support.

The programme specifically targets people who haven’t yet launched their business but are looking to achieve high growth and create employment opportunities from an early stage.

Carole White, chief executive of TEDCO Business Support, comments: “Ready for Business has been a proven success in the region, helping individuals set up new ventures and create new jobs from across a wide range of sectors.

“We are confident that Start and Grow will build on this success as our team of skilled business advisors get straight to work delivering the kind of tailored business support on a local level which turn ideas into thriving enterprises.

“Through our partners, Virgin StartUp, we are able to offer a range of additional programmes to help new businesses get up and running. TEDCO is the delivery partner for Virgin StartUp in the region, offering individuals low-cost business loans to provide much-needed finance to get a business off the ground.

“We are very focused on what Start and Grow can offer to regional business support and there is no doubt it will translate into new and successful businesses for the wider benefit of the local economy.”

Kevin Horne, chairman, Cavendish Consortium says: “The enterprise support organisations and partners involved in the delivery of the previous Ready for Business programme have vast experience and success in supporting pre start-ups with business advisory and training services - in many cases built up over 30 years. It is fantastic that we will now be able to support more start-ups through this new RGF funded programme, using our proven expertise to offer a unique and dedicated support package to new businesses.”

The Regional Growth Fund has invested nearly £2.85bn to help businesses in England to grow; so far generating 130,000 jobs.

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