MORE than 6,000 North-East jobs could be created in multi-million pound plans to increase the region’s scale-up businesses by 50 per cent over the next seven years.

Expressions of interest are now open for Scaleup North-East, which is being delivered by RTC North as a part of the North-East Growth Hub.

Eligible businesses must be based in the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership area (NElep) – Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham – have been trading for more than three years, have less than 250 staff, have an annual turnover of more than £500,000 and operate in an eligible ERDF sector.

Colin Bell, NElep business growth director, said: “This is a real step-change for the region and will help us meet our goal of creating more and better jobs and opportunities.”

Businesses can sign up to a launch event on January 26 at eventbrite.co.uk/e/ scaleup-north-east-launchtickets-39730349545 or visit scaleupnortheast.co.uk for more information.

Scaleup North-East is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, while the project received a £700,000 grant from the Local Growth Deal through NElep.