BUSINESS Link Tees Valley has strengthened its relationship with public and private sector organisations with the appointment of a Partnership Manager.

The first man to fill the role for the Middlesbrough-based organisation is 58-year-old Gerry Hayter, who has a wealth of experience working in small businesses of his own.

Prior to his latest role, Mr Hayter was operations manager and business services manager, positions which have helped to improve his knowledge of the services offered to small and medium sized businesses by Business Link.

He said: "In my former roles I helped to create the teams needed to deliver the services offered by Business Link following the development of the Small Business Service.

"In my new position I will create a platform which will allow Business Link in the Tees Valley to develop the links with its partner organisations."

Those partners include the likes of regional development agency One NorthEast, Trade Partners UK, the Learning and Skills Council, the North-East Chamber of Commerce, the University of Teesside and local authorities in the Tees Valley.

He said: "That list is not an exhaustive one of the organisations I want to encourage to work with Business Link.

"They are just the obvious partners at the moment. Any organisation that wants to work with us will be welcomed."

Mr Hayter added: "The overall aim is to ensure that local businesses benefit from stronger links between the area's economic strategy and the services developed to achieve it."

He feels that it is this strategic approach which will be critical to the long-term success of the Business Link organisation.

"We are reaching out to a wider audience than ever before, from pre-start up inquiries to established firms and across the entire range of businesses including voluntary, rural and ethnic sectors," said Mr Hayter.

"In order to adequately address each of the partners' individual needs, we have created the full-time senior management post of Partnership Manager.

"I am delighted to be taking up this position, which I am sure will be both challenging and satisfying and I am looking forward to developing even further our links with local and regional partners to deliver a first-class service of business support to new and established businesses in the Tees Valley."

Mr Hayter has a wealth of experience in the business world, having worked in small businesses, employing up to 150 staff, mainly in the packaging and plastic industries.

He said: "I'm a great believer in being able to do the job before you expect others to do it. You have to know your business from the ground up if you want it to be a success."

As a result Mr Hayter has held positions ranging from sales director to managing director, as well as creating and managing a number of his own businesses.

He also knows the Business Link organisation from the ground up, originally working as a business adviser, working his way up to lead and manage the organisation's team of more than 20 counsellors and business advisers.

Mr Hayter said: "Business Link is part of a national network of partnerships between the business community and government, offering the local area an independent broker to expert business support, delivered directly and to meet customer needs."