Training and development scheme success

9:18am Monday 26th November 2007

NEARLY 550 businesses have been set-up in the region during the past six years thanks to a business training and development scheme.

The New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) programme is a four-month training course that helps entrepreneurs start up their own companies.

This year, more than 200 people in the North-East have completed the course, which is managed by Entrust and funded through regional development agency One NorthEast About 140 people graduated in June and recently more than 70 people celebrated their graduation at a ceremony at Ramside Hall hotel, near Durham.

Since its launch in 2001, more than 900 people have completed the NES programme and 549 have set up in business in the region.

The scheme offers business training, advice and support, as well as up to £1,500 in funding.

Gary Coulthard, who took voluntary redundancy after working for 30 years in the engineering sector, recently completed the course and set up photography and IT business Imagewrks.

"The NES programme has brought all the skills I needed together into one package," said Mr Coulthard, from Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool.

"I always enjoyed photography and wanted to set up my own company but knew nothing about marketing or VAT. Thanks to the course, I now have a successful business."

For details of the scheme, call 0191-389-2648 or email linda.fer guson@cdcbp.org.uk