AROUND 800 jobs could be created in the North East as part of a new scheme which helps potential entrepreneurs get access to expertise to launch a business.

North East enterprise agency Tedco was among the bodies which urged the Government to launch the Ready for Business programme to help start- ups following the loss of the regional Business Link advice service.

The Government has backed the scheme with £15m of Regional Growth Fund money, which will help entrepreneurs in the most deserving areas of the country, principally in the North of England, to create a total of 6,000 businesses and up to 10,000 jobs.

The North East gets £1.5m of the investment, with every district getting help, while richer areas like Surrey get nothing.

The money will fund support to help businesses make the transition from employment to business start up, including one to one advice, mentoring, access to finance support and business planning.

Organisers have been working with Barclays bank, which pumped £1m into the scheme, to develop the training, which is available to anyone willing to pay £500 and raise match-funding to launch their business with a finance deal from any bank they choose.

Tedco and other regional agencies developed the plan and is confident that it will make a real difference in regions such as the North East, which have a poor record in successful new business creation.