THE JOURNAL
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
2020 Vision
journallive.co.uk
Testing new approaches to economic growth in our rural communities NELEP ELEP was delighted to be chosen earlier this year by Defra to deliver one of only five national pilot Rural Growth Network programmes. The NELEP bid, submitted via the North East Farming and Rural Advisory Network, proposes a number of new approaches to support the growth of small business with a particular focus on more remote, upland communities across the North East. The Rural Growth Network pilot encompasses the rural areas of County Durham, Gateshead and Northumberland and is being administered by Northumberland County Council. A major new grant scheme will enable the development and trial of
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new forms of workspace for micro businesses in identified enterprise hubs. In Middleton-in-Teesdale, for example, plans are being prepared to create new space at the Auction Mart and in Wooler a ‘smart work centre’ will create shared accommodation for micro enterprises, self-employed and also allow employees to work from remote loc-
Small and particularly micro business are the lifeblood of our rural communities
ations, reducing the need to travel providing cost and environmental benefits. Funds will also be utilised to create a programme of enterprise support, including specific activity aimed at the development and growth of women led enterprises, across the rural growth network area. Paul Woolston, chair of North East LEP, said: “NELEP welcomes the formation of NEFRAN as a strong, business led voice for rural areas. We believe that NEFRAN’s successful work to attract Rural Growth Network pilot funding to the North East area represents a significant opportunity for businesses to develop and grow within designated Enterprise Hubs. This activity will complement and contribute to NELEP’s goals of achieving economic growth across
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. We look forward to working closely with NEFRAN partners on developing innovative approaches to promoting enterprise and job creation opportunities in the future” Anthony Braithwaite, chair of NEFRAN, has been instrumental in bringing rural and agricultural businesses together with the three local authorities in preparing the bid. He said: “This novel programme of support brings together a mix of public-private sector-led interventions that will help to re-balance the economy of our more remote rural communities and target investment in growth sectors. “Small and particularly micro business are the lifeblood of our rural communities and in these difficult times it is important that those with high growth potential
can access the support they need to realise their ambitions and to help create local employment opportunities.” In addition, a complementary bid has been submitted to Defra seeking £1m from the RDPE Rural Economy Grant programme to provide grant support to micro businesses with growth prospects. Paul Woolston said: “Access to finance can often be a significant barrier for many micro businesses and we want to target this fund to specific sectors and to those businesses who are committed to growing and investing in our rural communities”. Further information on the programme will appear in the autumn on the NELEP website. In the meantime contact Ray Browning, Rural Growth Network manager email: ray.browning@ northumberland.gov.uk
SPACE Gibside workshops – one of several rural hubs to be promoted by the North East RGN Programme
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