In summary
Check out our regional news bulletin for information on our packed 2025 events calendar with our partners at NetWORK NotWORK CIC, giving you opportunities to make new connections and catch up with fellow business owners. There’s also details on business support and how to input your views in local transport consultations.
If you have any specific questions or issues impacting your business, email [email protected].
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Featured news and events
Launching our new NetWORKs!
FSB have partnered with our members and local Community Interest Company (CIC) NetWORK NotWORK to bring you a series of fabulously engaging and informal networking events across Teesside. We're delighted to announce that we will be bringing these popular and interactive events to a number of new locations across the North East Region including Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Hartlepool and Darlington with even more in the pipeline! All local business owners and self-employed people are welcome to join so share the events with your network.
Transport in the North East - have your say!
Do you want to see safer journeys, better connections, and making sustainable travel the first choice? This is your chance to reflect on what you think is needed for the North East. The North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, has officially opened the consultation on the Local Transport Plan for residents and businesses in County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. The Mayor and the Combined Authority are keen to hear from as many voices as possible from across our region to ensure the strategy and its subsequent implementation reflect the needs and views of all of our communities. This is a chance for you to shape the future of how we move around the North East, and your input is so important to get this right. The consultation will run until 26 Jan 2025, and the Combined Authority team are offering plenty of ways to get involved. You can complete an online survey or you can find other ways to take part on their website.
Durham Networking - 20 Jan
Kickstart your 2025 with the launch of a brand new series of events in Durham! FSB have partnered with our members at NetWORK NotWORK CIC to bring you a range of engaging, fun and informal networking events across the region. Join us at the launch of the Durham NetWORK on 20 Jan at the fabulous Radisson Blu Hotel. All local businesses and self-employed people are welcome to attend this free event so share the details of the event with your network.
In other news
Free cyber security toolkit for small businesses
The National Cyber Security Centre is offering our newsletter readers invite-only beta access to My Cyber Toolkit — a free government service helping small businesses protect themselves against cyber criminals. My Cyber Toolkit is being designed with input from businesses like yours and offers simple step-by-step guidance tailored to small businesses. Get your toolkit today to protect your business and have your say in shaping the tool for millions of small businesses across the UK.
LinkUp with local schools
The North East LinkUp Portal aims to bring education and business closer together and is open to all education establishments and businesses within the North East Combined Authority. The platform allows education establishments to request support for career-related events and activities and offers opportunities for businesses to engage with these requests, as well as promoting events of their own. When registering, a business can filter events and activities they are informed of, by selecting the local authority area(s), type of education provider(s), age range(s) and event type(s) they wish to engage with. Click this link to register and discover the opportunities available Register. Further support on utilising the North East LinkUp Portal and engaging with education providers can be provided by the North East Ambition team.
Still in the news
Business Support from the North East Growth Hub
As part of the new North East Combined Authority, the North East Growth Hub is the gateway to business support and funding, helping to position the North East as an outstanding place to live, work, visit and invest through the creation of the thriving businesses and entrepreneurs.
If you’re based in County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside or Sunderland and want to find out more about the business support programmes available to you, get in touch with the team or take a look at their website.
Tees Valley Business Support
Across the country, local or combined authorities are delivering business support programmes, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Earlier this year, the Tees Valley Combined Authority launched its programme of business support projects and funded support, covering a wide-range of interventions to help businesses across Darlington, Hartlepool and Teesside to start, grow and thrive.
Programmes include the following and more!
- An intensive accelerator support programme for entrepreneurs.
- A mentoring and coaching programme offering focused support from experts to drive business growth.
- An innovation programme connecting SMEs to large organisations through innovation challenges, supporting smaller firms to develop new products and access new markets.
- Net Zero initiatives to help firms on their journey to becoming more sustainable.
- Targeted support for entrepreneurs encountering multiple socio-economic barriers to self-employment and business growth funding.
- Digital adoption and growth support.
To find out more about the programmes, visit the Business Tees Valley website, or register your interest by e-mailing [email protected].
More news and activity near you
- North Yorkshire
- South and East Yorkshire and the Humber
- West Yorkshire
- More from FSB Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for the North East is Reshma Begum. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on X: @FSBNortheast
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.North.East.England