In summary
Find out more about apprenticeships at our partnered events in Tees Valley and Newcastle this month, celebrating National Apprenticeship Week. Check out our packed events calendar to build new connections and network with fellow business owners! Read our full news bulletin for details on business support and an exciting new volunteer role available for members wanting to help shape FSB activity regionally.
As ever, do get in touch at [email protected] with any issues or queries.
Featured news and events
FSB Seeks New Regional Chair
We are currently seeking nominations from FSB members to become our new regional Chair, representing Yorkshire, the Humber and North East England, with effect from 1st April 2025. Working alongside staff the regional Chair promotes and champions FSB to external stakeholders and audiences, supports our lobbying on issues important to local businesses and supports activity and membership growth within the region. To find out more, request a copy of the full role description, please contact [email protected] before Thursday 13th February. Selection will take place between 14th and 28th February.
Innovation Tees Valley Awards - Open for entries!
Are you a small business with bold ideas and transformative solutions? The Innovative Small Business Award, presented by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) as part of Innovation Tees Valley, celebrates businesses in Tees Valley leading the way with creativity and resilience. This is your chance to gain recognition, inspire others, and showcase your impact on the region’s growth. Join us at the Innovation Tees Valley event as we honour these trailblazing businesses.
📅 12th March 2025
📍 Billingham Forum, Tees Valley
🔗 Apply now and join us at the Innovation Tees Valley event to honour the incredible achievements of our region's trailblazing small businesses!
Newcastle Networking by FSB and Orega - 25 Feb
Join FSB and Orega as we provide a platform for business owners from across the North East England Region to come together in an informal and engaging environment. It will be a relaxed event with an emphasis on making introductions, connecting with new contacts and meeting old friends. Whether you are a regular networker or new to these type of events, you will find a warm welcome and a nice easy atmosphere for making those valuable introductions. At this event, you will hear from Orega on how they can help you give you business a boost in 2025. You'll also hear from inspirational local entrepreneurs on their experience with the accelerator programme and how it helped them take their business to new heights. This event is open to all businesses, both FSB members and non-members are welcome to attend, so feel free to share with your networks. Places at this event are limited so register early to avoid disappointment!
In other news
Net Zero Market Place Event - Darlington
You want your business to embark on it’s journey towards Net Zero but you don’t know how to start. You’ve an idea what your carbon footprint is and you want to engage with local businesses that can help you reduce it. If this is you, join us for an opportunity to meet local organisations and businesses with know-how and resources that can provide practical solutions for your business. Net Zero is happening. The question for you is: do you want your business to take the competitive advantage of being ahead of the curve? Whilst you’re here come and talk to like-minded businesses who are already DEEP members and come and join us. ( it’s free by the way!)
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, 21st February
- Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Location: Central Hall, Dolphin Centre
What's Happening? At this event, businesses will have the chance to:
- Network: Meet and connect with other business owners.
- Showcase: Display your business’s efforts and innovations in sustainability.
- Learn: Discover what other businesses are doing to move towards Net Zero.
How to Participate Book a Stall: If you’re interested in showcasing your business, reserve a stall by contacting [email protected]. Join the Fun: If you prefer to simply attend and explore, feel free to drop by and enjoy the event. Whether you’re a business owner looking to expand your network or simply curious about sustainable business practices, this event is for you. We look forward to seeing you there!
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.
Still in the 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.
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