Partners
To help you find entrepreneurs whose experiences will be most relevant to your own situation or your current needs, we’re identifying their associations in three ways – where are they located, what sector their business is in and which support organisations have they worked with. By selecting a location, sector or organisation, you’ll create a list of relevant entrepreneurs.
Organisations
- Name:
- Blueprint
The Blueprint competition, now in its 6th year, brings together all five of the region’s universities to showcase and develop the best emerging talent in the region; encouraging the creation of new, exciting business ventures in the North East.
- Name:
- The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust run programmes that encourage young people to take responsibility for themselves – helping them build the life they choose rather than the one they’ve ended up with. It offers a range of opportunities including training, personal development, business start up support, mentoring and advice, and their Business Programme provides money and support to help young people start up in business.
- Name:
- Enterprise Ambassadors
Enterprise UK is a national organisation that aims to give people the skills, confidence and ambition to be enterprising.
Ambassadors and Role Models are entrepreneurs who share their skills and experiences in business to help inspire others playing an important role in supporting the next generation of young entrepreneurs.
- Name:
- Women into the Network
Women Into the Network (WIN) aims to support, connect and promote their members by providing personalised and practical services, creating useful introductions and connections, and representing their business needs on a regional and national stage.
- Name:
- Business Link
Business Link offers advice and guidance to businesses at all stages. From helping those starting up to those already running a business or even those looking to grow their business to the next level Business Link offers assistance across all areas of business.
- Name:
- Newcastle Business Mums
Newcastle Business Mums is an informal networking group made up of mums in business who meet up every other month. We started in November 2008 and enjoy networking in a relaxed environment with other mums who have their own businesses. Together we share ideas and advice, offer workshops to help you and your business.
- Name:
- Hartlepool Enterprise Services
The Hartlepool Enterprise Team is based at the Hartlepool Enterprise Centre and provides a range of business support services to individuals looking to start up in business or existing businesses looking to expand.
- Name:
- The Entrepreneurs' Forum
The Entrepreneurs' Forum was created in 2002 by a group of the region´s leading business people. The idea was simple – to create a cross sector peer–group of like minded individuals who could share ideas, knowledge, inspiration and opportunities in a confidential environment.
- Name:
- The Difference Engine
The Difference Engine is a full time 13 week acceleration programme which combines investment capital of £20,000 (for 8% of the business) with mentoring, support and office accommodation with various other services provided by our partners.
- Name:
- Not All Dragons Bite
Gateshead Council is offering adults living in Gateshead the chance to make the leap to self-employment - but they're ensuring that it's a leap they won't have to make on their own with Not All Dragons Bite .
- Name:
- Gateshead Council Business Services
Gateshead Council Business Services are committed to providing a top class service to both residents and businesses and is currently focused on driving the commercial agenda in the North East.
- Name:
- Newcastle University Media Students
We’re determined that entrepreneurs in the North East – at all stages of their journey – will make the headlines now and in the future.
That’s why we hooked up with undergraduate students on the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies degree course at Newcastle University.
- Name:
- Start Up After Redundancy
The role models on this page have all seized the day and turned their lives around after redundancy affected them. Please read their stories and we’ll hope you’ll be inspired by their fine example.
- Name:
- Entrepreneurs Durham
Entrepreneurs Durham is a student led, voluntary, non-profit organisation, committed to maintaining an open and inclusive community of student entrepreneurs, to developing the entrepreneurial environment of the North East and to growing the entrepreneurial capabilities of its members.
- Name:
- Be Enterprising
Be Enterprising is a business support and enterprise programme working with people in County Durham, fully funded by the government and the European Regional Development Fund.
- Name:
- Newcastle Enterprise Awards
The Newcastle Enterprise Awards is a brand new Awards competition for enterprising people in the region. These special Awards are not about being the biggest, the most profitable or even the best, they are about celebrating the achievements, talent and passion of those who have really made a difference.
- Name:
- Sunderland Software City
Sunderland Software City is the regional initiative supporting software companies in the North East of England and making the region the place to do business for the global software industry.
- Name:
- The Business Factory
The Business Factory is about being more enterprising, looking at life differently and doing something new. It may be developing a business idea, getting into a new career, or exploring a hobby or skill you might have. The Business Factory can support you with all of this.
Locations
- Name:
- Tyneside
The IWCYC Tyneside Community
- Name:
- Wearside
The IWCYC Wearside Community
- Name:
- County Durham
The IWCYC County Durham Community
- Name:
- Tees Valley
The IWCYC Tees Valley Community
- Name:
- Northumberland
The IWCYC Northumberland Community
Sectors
- Name:
- Film
The UK Film industry is a massive sector with many homegrown directors, actors and studios continuing to make waves home and abroad. The North East punches above its weight in terms of home grown talent and expertise, delivering high class projects on the small and large screen, and is becoming a leader in digital innovation.
- Name:
- Education
The education and skills sector is a huge market, and there is a diverse range of training, education and resource providers across the UK as a whole. The North East is no different, with a multitude of public and private bodies involved in the education sector.
- Name:
- I.T
The North East is well-equipped to move with the technological tide with world-class Universities, a host of multi-national IT companies based in the region, and innovative SMEs at the forefront of the pioneer. The North East has the existing capacity and the future talent to ensure IT remains big business in our region.
- Name:
- Digital
The North East has an established digital sector covering everything from web design and development, to online marketing, software development and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). With a host of exciting businesses across this sector, as well as top-class universities across the region, the North East’s pedigree in the digital sector is proven now and secured for the future.
- Name:
- Childcare
The North East has seen its childcare sector grow extraordinarily in recent years, and the role of entrepreneurs has been pivotal in its growth and wealth of new employment opportunities. The region has seen new and innovative services have a massive impact on the way the sector has developed, and is continuing to do so.
- Name:
- Construction
Even a cursory glance at the built environment across the region explains why the scale and skill of the construction industry is held in such high regard. With major, multi-nationals working in the region alongside talented smaller construction firms, some truly exceptional work on display highlights the strength of construction in the North East, and future plans look fantastic indeed.
- Name:
- Health and Beauty
Across the North East there exists a vibrant beauty industry ranging from hair and tanning salons to nail technicians, beauty therapy, barbers and health spas. The industry has been one of the most well performing sectors in a recession-hit UK, but it is the inventive and diverse nature of North East entrepreneurs that is ultimately catalysing the positive future of the Health and Beauty industry in our region.
- Name:
- Arts
Performing and Creative Arts enjoys a pretty wide scope, encompassing talents across many areas from writing and acting, to dancing, photography and music. The North East is particularly invested in the arts - establishing the region as a thriving hub of creativity. From local theatre, artwork and musicians, to world-class arts exhibitions, the region is brimming with artistic talent.
- Name:
- Animation
The Digital & Animation cluster in the North East is one of the biggest in Europe, and Teesside University is proudly featured in the Top 20 in 3d World’s global animation league. As London’s biggest (and gaining) rival, the high level skills of North East animation businesses is drawing much deserved international attention.
- Name:
- Automotive
Our world-class automotive industry sits proudly as one of five major manufacturing countries in Europe, and the North East has a significant role to play in the future of the automotive sector – and is at the forefront of technology in the development of electric vehicles. The recent announcement by Lord Mandelson that Sunderland is a “strong contender” to produce electric vehicles for Europe was great news for the region – and will undoubtedly create opportunities.
- Name:
- Advertising
The North East’s role in the advertising industry and all its facets - including print, TV and web- based advertising is considerable, with more and more young, vibrant and talented agencies joining more established companies in reducing the brain-drain of talented graduates leaving for southern agencies as well as helping to establish a real creative hub here in the North East.
- Name:
- Sport
With the upcoming 2012 Olympics, and campaigns for a ‘fitter Britain’, the role of the sports sector has been enjoying an increased presence. In the North East, the sports community is becoming more and more prevalent, and new and exciting ventures by entrepreneurs are taking the sector up a level.
- Name:
- Photography
Photography often is defined by one word: vision. Specialising in fine art, fashion, advertising, location and much more, the North East plays host to a vibrant photography community, utilizing the latest processes and digital innovation. The vision of North East entrepreneurs in this sector is stunning.
- Name:
- E-Commerce
With the widespread availability of the internet, the importance of a global market and the ability to drive prices down against the high street, E-Commerce is a massively popular commercial arena. The intuitive nature of entrepreneurs means that is also a sector with great diversity.
- Name:
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing has always been a corner-stone of industry in the North East, although the region used to be known exclusively for its shipbuilding expertise. Now our reputation for innovative and commercial manufacturing ideas is being quickly spread thanks to the groundbreaking minds of local entrepreneurs. Indeed the region is leading the way in renewable manufacturing, and the local industry is continuing to defy the economic gloom.
- Name:
- Fashion
The North East plays host to many talented, vibrant designers, fashion-gurus and creative businesses that have stayed based in the region to make their mark on the fashion industry nation-wide. It’s a vibrant community and the North-East has a strong foothold in the industry.
- Name:
- Social Enterprise
Social enterprise in the North East is becoming more and more extensive, from small ventures to larger organizations creating profitable businesses combined with meeting social needs. Across the UK it’s an industry with great recent growth.
- Name:
- PR
Good PR is often invaluable to businesses –a message which is really spreading judging by the wealth and scope of PR in the North East, leading the way in delivering world-class PR results for their clients- on both a local and national scale.
- Name:
- Travel
Without wanting to sound too much like a tourism brochure, at home the hidden gems and fantastic locations across the whole of the North East attract a huge amount of visitors every year. North East entrepreneurial success stories spread far and wide, from well established travel firms to exciting new web 2.0 ventures making waves in the travel industry in the UK and abroad.
- Name:
- Scientific and Medical
From new pharmaceutical production and cutting-edge medical treatments to innovative genetic research the North East encompasses a well established medical and scientific industry. With world class research centers, leading universities, regional hospitals, and pioneering entrepreneurs, the region is a center for scientific and medical development that is testament to its invested talent.
- Name:
- Food and Drink
The quality and high standards of Britain’s food and drink industry is noted globally, and food and drink processing is a leading employer in the North East. From manufacturing, wholesale, retail and service, it’s a sector that is really burgeoning thanks to the well conceived and popular brands from North East entrepreneurs. And with innumerable top-class hotels, restaurants, bistro’s, bars and deli’s, the North East has a wealth of culinary talent too.
- Name:
- Hospitality
The hospitality community on If we can, you can is a thriving one. The North East has a huge selection of exceptional dining, sleeping, and socializing venues, which also play host to a great range of hospitality suppliers. Utilising our brilliant towns, cities, and countryside, it is steeped in character, history and heritage. Britain as a whole boasts a considerable hospitality sector, employing a huge workforce.
- Name:
- Media and Journalism
The media industry is huge business throughout the UK. The North East showcases popular daily programs across television, radio and print journalism, with viewing and reading figures competitive with national alternatives. And media is changing every day with the onset of social media, mobile technology, and online content influencing the way people and businesses communicate. The future of the sector looks exciting indeed.
- Name:
- Recruitment
Finding the right people is key to employers in the region, and many companies are utilizing the expertise of many regional and national recruitment agencies to find them. Meanwhile, candidates of the North East frequently consult agencies to find their next career move.
