Member Article

Scheme to target public to private sector employment

The Ready for Business programme has been launched in the North East, and aims to create 800 jobs.

Following a successful £15m investment from the Regional Growth Fund, the programme will be managed by TEDCO, who will work alongside other enterprise support organisations and Barclays Bank, who have invested a further £1m.

The scheme will focus on the transfer of public sector employment to the private sector through one-to-one advice, mentoring, access to finance and business planning support.

Across the country, the campaign aims to create 6,000 new businesses and up to 10,000 jobs.

Doug Scott, chief executive of TEDCO said: “The enterprise support organisations and partners involved in the delivery of the new Ready for Business programme have vast experience and success in supporting pre start ups with business advisory and training services - in many cases built up over 30 years.

“It is fantastic that we will now be able to increase our reach through this new RGF funded programme, using our proven expertise to offer a unique and dedicated support package to a large number of future start-ups.”

“With the commitment made to this programme, Government has demonstrated the value it places on start-up businesses and the role they play in business growth. We are incredibly proud to have been successful in our bid to support additional start-ups through the development of this new programme.”

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk, said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and we want to encourage more people to discover their entrepreneurial spirit and start a business.

“I’m pleased the Ready for Business programme, which includes partners such as Barclays
Bank and the National Enterprise Network, will join many other schemes benefitting from support from the Regional Growth Fund to help small companies realise their potential.

“It’s important we make available to businesses the tools they need to succeed. Whether this is details about finance opportunities, or partnering them with a mentor who can share first hand experiences, we can help them to thrive and grow with the type of targeted support Ready for Business can offer.”

Steve Cooper, Vice Chairman, Business Banking, Barclays said: “This is a key initiative that will deliver real benefits to business.

“The programme of seminars will focus on some of the most pressing issues facing start-ups during their difficult initial period – from how to get started and create a viable business plan through to getting the business in good shape for finance.

“The new businesses and jobs that will be created through this initiative will be a welcome boost to the UK economy.”

Ready for Business is now running events with over 2000 seminars planned for the North East, the first of which will be held on Tuesday July 17 in Barclays Bank on Grey Street in Newcastle.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .