Festival returns to fuel start-up success

A North East festival is set to inspire new businesses this autumn.

The Northumberland Enterprise Festival, organised by Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS), returns from October 7-9 across three county locations: Market Place Blyth, Brocksbushes and Alnwick Garden. 

The free one-day events are aimed at people thinking of starting a business or in their first year of trading, offering workshops, talks, networking opportunities and advice on topics such as pricing, growth planning and customer retention.

Programme manager Lucy Evermore, said: “The Northumberland Enterprise Festival is all about supporting local residents to explore their potential. 

“Whether someone has a business idea they’ve been sitting on, or they’ve recently launched and feel overwhelmed, this event is designed to show them they’re not alone. 

“We want people to leave with renewed confidence, clarity, and practical tools they can use straight away.”

The festival builds on three successful events in 2024, which helped nearly 100 entrepreneurs launch their own ventures, some securing grants to purchase essential equipment. 

Attendees will also hear first-hand experiences from businesses who have previously benefitted from NSBS support.

Katie Davis-Milnes, owner of Skylark Asset and Business Finance, who attended last year’s festival, added: “We can't recommend the NSBS Enterprise festival enough. 

“We attended last year before we began trading and it proved to be invaluable. 

“It was brilliant to get support from professionals alongside other, inspiring, like-minded people setting up businesses, not to mention a lovely lunch”.

Delivered by Northumberland County Council and part-funded by the North East Combined Authority and the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, the festival forms part of NSBS’s wider commitment to fostering a strong entrepreneurial culture and supporting micro and small businesses across the county.

To find out more and to register for the events, see here.

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