A vehicle with a mission to transform the region's enterprise culture will take to the streets of the North-East this month.

The first Launch Pad, a massive van packed with gadgets and information designed to support budding entrepreneurs, is complete.

And the vehicle, which has been funded by a £150,000 grant from regional development agency One NorthEast, is gearing up for action as it leads a pilot tour testing out a range of enterprise workshops.

The first of two pads will visit communities including schools and colleges, rural areas, youth groups, community and shopping centres.

The launch of the first vehicle follows the success of the North-East Enterprise Bond, a private sector-led initiative which attracted overwhelming support from private individuals, businesses and the public sector.

Money raised from interest on the cash invested will be used to buy and run Launch Pads.

The bond closed last October raising a fund equivalent to £5m. The investors, which include Sage, Greggs, NRG, Northern Rock Foundation, and Trinity Mirror, publisher of The Journal, will be paid back their investments at the end of five years.

Diane Fisher-Naylor, new chief executive of the North-East Enterprise Bond, said: "The interest in the Launch Pad concept has been amazing.

"Its ability to take the enterprise message to the streets will allow us and our partners to work with a whole range of people who may not think that being self-employed is a viable option for them.

"With support and encouragement, we want them to raise their aspirations and be the entrepreneurs and community leaders of the future. "This sort of pre-start-up activity is absolutely vital to helping the region to bridge the enterprise gap it faces. So, watch this space, the Launch Pads will be coming to a community near you soon."

Organisers are preparing for delivery of the second vehicle, which is funded in part by Tyne and Wear Partnership.

Enterprise Partners already on board to help deliver the initiative include Big Ideas, People into Enterprise, Women into the Network, Young Co-operatives, Norham Community and Technology College, Newcastle Education Business Partnership, Prince's Trust and Young Enterprise.

David Baker, chairman of the North-East Enterprise Bond and deputy chief executive of Northern Rock, said: "It's fantastic to see the Launch Pad on the road.

"I would like to thank every investor who has made this possible, as well as our board members and partners for the help, encouragement and support they have provided to make the Bond such an incredible success, and we can't wait to see the many ways that our work will encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the region."