European Social Fund in England

Start Up services helping new entrepreneurs

A Business Link project is using European funding to break down some of the barriers to setting up alone in an effort to boost entrepreneurship in Tees Valley.

The Start-up Service from Business Link Tees Valley provides a wide range of support to help people develop business ideas right through to the setting up and running of their own company.

Support includes one-to-one advice, workshops, networking and training. Once a business has started, the service can also help with areas such as finance, marketing and IT.

The Start-up Service can offer funding to eligible companies, including wage subsidies and capital grants.

The Service set its sights on groups that were traditionally under-represented in the new business start-up market including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and the under-25s.

Key outputs

• 630 beneficiaries supported
• 218 women supported
• 32 beneficiaries supported from ethnic minority groups
• 126 people living in rural areas receiving support

Marketing through community centres and libraries, competitions on local radio and advertising at sporting grounds, the Start-up Service aims to reach more people and encourage them to think about the benefits of being their own boss.

One resident benefiting from the Start-up Service is Karl Doddridge - a Saltburn man with a skill for vehicle body repair.

Karl Doddridge, 25, set up Bodyright in June, offering a mobile service specialising in all aspects of car body repairs having worked within the motor trade for nine years.

Karl turned to the Start-up programme for advice, training and support in a number of areas including sales and marketing, creating brand awareness and keeping financial accounts.