In summary
Happy New Year!
We have plenty planned to kickstart your 2025 – from the launch of our partnered Durham NetWORK to an inspiring event with NatWest in Newcastle. 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 how to input your views in local consultations.
As ever, do get in touch at [email protected] with any issues or queries.
Featured news and events
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.
Complete the consultation here>
Food for thought - Are you ready for the new recycling regulations?
Does your organisation have 10 or more full time employees? If yes, you need to prepare for the Simpler Recycling legislation coming into effect March 2025. But don’t worry, free support, advice and guidance is available for North East businesses. A new campaign called Waste Aware North East has been launched through a partnership including Genee Consulting, Net Zero North East England and the North East Recycling Forum.
A variety of free resources are being made available for organisations to help you prepare and feel confident about the impact on your business. The new regulations are aimed at making recycling easier and will make it simpler for your business to contribute to a greener future. Not only is recycling better for the environment, but it also makes good business sense—reduce waste, cut costs. Free resources include a recorded webinar, which covers the key changes you need to know, with presentations from WRAP and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra):
- How these regulations will impact your business
- Tips for easy compliance and maximizing sustainability.
Access this and more resources to make the transition smooth and hassle-free.
Newcastle Networking by FSB and NatWest - 28 Jan
Join FSB and NatWest 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 NatWest on their widely-renowned accelerator programme and how it 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
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.
Check out our events calendar for details on upcoming events or book directly here>
Newcastle University MBA Partnership Projects
Are you facing a business challenge or have an idea you’d like to explore? Newcastle University Business School invites you to collaborate with their talented MBA students to uncover fresh insights and innovative solutions. Why partner with the university? - Their MBA cohort brings a wealth of experience and global perspectives to the table. By working with their students, you’ll gain access to new perspectives and cutting-edge research whilst contributing to their academic and professional growth.
This year’s group includes professionals representing 10 nationalities for a diverse worldview, 9 industries offering broad expertise, an average of 5.5 years of managerial experience to ensure practical, real-world solutions.
How it works: Students will work closely with your organisation to analyse your challenge, conduct in-depth research, and deliver actionable insights and recommendations. This could involve strategy development, market analysis, process improvement, or other tailored solutions, depending on your specific needs.
This a free resource that comes at no financial cost to the host business (unless there is travel involved for the student.) They’re seeking partnerships with organisations that:
- Are registered businesses, social enterprises, or charities located anywhere in the world
- Can dedicate time to participate in this research-focused collaboration from July to August 2025
- Are able to assign a supervisor or mentor to guide and support the MBA students Interested?
This is an exceptional opportunity to tap into the energy and expertise of future business leaders whilst addressing real-world challenges. If you’re interested or would like more information, contact the team.
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