Helping hand proves crucial
THOUSANDS of people and companies have tapped into advice and support from the Real Help for Business and People Now campaign, promoted through the Gazette and its sister paper The Journal.
Figures released this week show that a year since launching the campaign in the teeth of recession, more than 5,000 North-east companies have been helped, including one Teesside-based national shopfitter whose business was hit sideways when retailers turned off the tap.
David Graham, director of Newman Scott, the Thornaby firm part-owned by Teesside entrepreneur Stephen Bell, responded to the advertising campaign after being forced to lay off nearly half the 80-strong workforce.
Through support organisation Business Link, it was able to invest in heavily-subsidised computer-aided design kit which helped cut costs and speed up production at the firm, which was teetering on the brink.
“When you are in the heart of recession everything is going south and spending goes north,” said Mr Graham.
“The industry was under real pressure. The high-end retailers just turned off the tap.”
Having seen several national rivals go down, the company decided the only way to ride out the slump was to invest and it is now doing well enough to recruit.
“It’s a very volatile environment still,” said Mr Graham.
“But we have got ourselves well set.
“We are bringing people back on board slowly.”
Alan Clarke, chief executive for One North East, which promotes the campaign, said: “While it is very welcome news that the UK economy has emerged from recession, its effects are still being felt and will be for some time to come, so the campaign will continue to run, offering support to people and companies as our economy begins to recover and create new opportunities for people and businesses.”
For more information on the range of support available go to www.realhelpnortheast.co.uk
