MORE than 7,000 people have opened a business in the North-East with the help of a Government fund for job seekers with an entrepreneurial idea.

Successful New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) applicants get access to a business mentor, financial support for up to six months and may be able to apply for a loan of up to £25,000 to help with start-up costs.

Since it was set up in April 2011, 7,180 people in the North-East have taken advantage of it, the Department for Work and Pensions said.

County Durham had the highest number of start-ups (1,490), followed by North Tyneside (790), Northumberland (730) and Sunderland (720).

Minster for Employment Damian Hinds said: “As these latest figures show, thousands of people across the North-East have great business ideas and are taking the steps to turn them into a reality.

“The NEA provides the right mix of expert, tailored advice and support to people of all backgrounds which can be invaluable in the early days of starting a company.”

Colin Young, 51, from Sunderland, started a professional drone photography service after being made redundant from his job.

He said: “The NEA put me in touch with an adviser who not only helped me with my business plan, but also to plan for any pitfalls that I might not have considered.”

For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/new-enterprise-allowance.