Would-be entrepreneurs flock for advice

Aug 13 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

BUSINESS Link North East has exceeded performance targets by helping about 9,000 customers in the first three months of the financial year.

Between April and June, BLNE supported 9,177 established, start-up and pre-start customers, exceeding targets by 19%.

In the quarter, the regional business advisory service supported:

5,732 established businesses;

2,816 individuals exploring business ideas;

629 start-ups.

Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business and Enterprise North East (BE-NE), the organisation responsible for Business Link services, said: “It has been a very good start to the year and we are witnessing a continued increase in uptake of the Business Link service by businesses at all stages of their development.

“Our first-quarter performance suggests that despite difficult credit conditions, increasing tax and rising energy and commodity prices, established and start-up businesses in all sectors across the region remain confident in the future and confident in our ability to help them succeed. It is particularly pleasing that almost 3,000 people interested in starting up their own businesses have approached us during the last three months.

One NorthEast’s director for business and industry Ian Williams said: “The Regional Economic Strategy highlights the importance of supporting businesses to drive economic growth and sets North East England some major challenges for creating new businesses and increasing productivity.

“Business Link is absolutely fundamental to meeting these challenges and these results demonstrate its strong progress so far this year.”