What individuals thinking about starting a business really need is encouragement and advice. Informal contacts and networking can provide this, but in many cases people with ideas for a new business feel isolated and alone. In Tynedale, Northumberland there is a wealth of latent business talent, largely scattered and unconnected over a relatively large rural area. A ‘bottom up’ approach brings this talent together adding the expertise of the private sector to traditional business support.
This project will apply technologies which have proven their application in other rural areas outside the north east. We are supporting a group of private businesses to introduce this new approach to England’s largest administrative district an area of over 2000 square kilometres, and home to 60,000 people.
The project is structured around a Board of some 40-50 volunteers from both private business, community groups and local government, balanced strongly in favour of private interests.
Funding has been received to cover the development and start up costs of the Sirolli Institute. A facilitator has been recruited and board members are comitted to introduce him to their local community with the aim of putting him in contact with 200/300 potential customers over the first few months.
For more details email mark@tynedale-enterprise.co.uk or visit the website www.tynedale-enterprise.co.uk
