Small firms are showcased at special event

Aug 3 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

ENTREPRENEURS have been showing off their goods and services to potential customers at a two-day event in Northumberland.

The two Enterprising Wansbeck showcase days, which took place in Bedlington and Ashington, gave dozens of small firms the opportunity to meet potential new customers.

Organised by the Wansbeck Business Forum and Go Wansbeck, the events also offered specialist advice, including business coaching and tailored one-to-one advice to entrepreneurs keen to grow their businesses.

Local enterprise students from schools in Bedlington, Cambois and Ashington also took part, selling their products and learning from established small firms.

Ken Hastie, from Wansbeck Business Forum, said: “For such a long time the area has been tagged with the hallmarks of a depressed area and when news of recession hit too, people feared the worst.

“However, LEGI (the local growth initiative) and a renewed ‘enterprise spirit’ has worked in Wansbeck’s favour and I’m proud to say that a lot of businesses are booming and many more will do so in the future.”