Sedgefield Borough Council has welcomed a succession of companies to the new £2.8m Shildon Business Centre, the latest example of the council's commitment to investing in business facilities in the borough.

Twenty-two businesses that have opened, relocated or expanded on to the site since the business centre was completed in January last year now occupy 20,000sq ft of unit and office space.

Currently, Shildon Business Centre can boast 100 per cent occupancy of its office space.

Tenants include, The Prince's Trust, The Seymour Trust, MMI Ltd, Precision Design, AM Projects, SWIIS Foster Care Ltd and Operational Excellence Ltd.

Located in the business centre is Sedgefield Borough Business Service's small firms team, which was able to move in and start helping businesses straight away. Since March, 200 companies have received counselling.

Janet Johnson, manager of SBBS, said: "Starting a new business is a challenge in itself. There is a lot of help available for both new and existing companies within our borough and we aim to give as much help, advice and guidance to them as we can."

Built with funding from Sedgefield Borough Council, One NorthEast, the Single Regeneration Budget and ERDF, the Shildon Business Centre development offers new companies a modern business environment along with practical support to ensure firms grow.

Ms Johnson said: "A smaller scale development without funding would not have met the needs of the borough's new start businesses. Already we have assisted 14 new companies to start up on the site."

The development has a multi-media conference suite and a separate communal workshop area with modern equipment for engineering, fabrication and woodworking, significant factors when attracting businesses to the site.

For anyone with a business idea or thinking about setting up in business, the small firm's team at Shildon can be contacted on (01388) 777597