Starting and running your own company is never easy. Whatever it is - from a CHILDMINDER to a GARAGE to a FLORIST - there are a million things to think about and questions you need answers to.

You might need advice on a legal issue, help with finding grants and funding, guidance on tapping into the local skills base - or just someone to talk things through with. And that’s where the Be Enterprising team can help.

We’re experts in the business field, but we’re also friendly, down-to-earth people who understand that ‘going it alone’ can be daunting. Our Enterprise Coaches can take the stress out of setting a business up or expanding a company.

OUR VISION

The vision of the Be Enterprising Programme is that by 2016 County Durham communities will be the most enterprising in the North East and the fastest improving areas for enterprise and productivity in England.

THE BE ENTERPRISING PROGRAMME

The Be Enterprising Programme is supported by Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding. It was awarded to Durham County Council and the former Districts of Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield and Wear Valley on 23 February 2006, following a successful submission under round 1 of the LEGI Programme.

Approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), the Programme is directed towards increasing levels of enterprise and participation in enterprise activities within the four district localities. It is targeted at communities, and the businesses it supports fall within the 98 Super Output Areas (SOAs) that are within the 10% most employment deprived SOAs in England within the ODPM’s 2004 Index of Deprivation.

In April 2009 Be Enterprising was awarded a £4.1m part finance package from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007-13. This funding will accelerate, deepen and enhance the County Durham LEGI programme's activities. ERDF will enable additional activity in the 10% most employment deprived super output areas and will extend the reach to a wider footprint embracing the 30% most employment deprived super output areas across County Durham, creating an integrated initative to develop enterprise.

Programme implementation is undertaken through a commissioning led approach. All activities are agreed by the Management Board and then appropriate arrangements for the delivery of these outcomes are procured.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

To increase:
• total entrepreneurial activity to the National average.
• the number of young people thinking about starting a business or selfemployment.
• business productivity and survival rates.   

To ensure
• spend and activities of mainstream business support service providers are increased in deprived neighbourhoods.
• VAT business registration exceeds the County average.