Support for business start-ups

Mar 10 2008 By Jez Davison, Evening Gazette

TEES business gurus have pledged their support for a regional campaign to boost the number of business-start-ups and entrepreneurial activity in the North-east.

Established entrepreneurs including multi-millionaire retail magnate, Steven Bell, and Alastair Waite of Middlesbrough-based Onyx Group are backing 'If We Can, You Can', which aims to create a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who become role models and mentors for others.

The initiative, which is being backed by the Gazette, is a collaboration between funding body One NorthEast and the Entrepreneur's Forum, which was set up in 2002 to share ideas, knowledge, inspiration and opportunities.

But whereas the forum is aimed primarily at entrepreneurs seeking help to take their business to the next level, ‘If We Can, You Can’ is targeting budding Bransons and Roddicks who are yet to get started in business. Established gurus will mentor fledgling entrepreneurs to help them get their business off the ground.