News Article

An exciting North East project to develop 192 social and traditional enterprises and create over 200 jobs in disadvantaged areas has been given the green light with confirmation of funding from the European Union.

SES (Sustainable Enterprise Strategies) has launched the £1.8m initiative to create two business support hubs in Sunderland and North Shields.  With over 800m2 of incubator and managed workspace facilities, the hubs will provide accommodation and start up support for small and medium sized enterprises across Tyne and Wear.

The project is also the launchpad for the delivery of enterprise coaching for individuals and groups in deprived communities.  Support will be targeted at those wishing to establish social and traditional enterprises and shared facilities will enable them to develop, collaborate and grow in a supported environment.

Major backing for the project is coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007-13, with £914,000 ERDF investment secured through regional development agency One North East.  The other half of the investment has been put up with a combination of funds from SES, Sunderland City Council and the Northern Rock Foundation.

“Our enterprise development and business support programme will help a wide range of social and community enterprises in disadvantaged communities,” explained SES director Mark Saddington.

“We will get involved right from the word go, from pre-start up and ideas stage through to development and growth, providing more early stage ‘hands on’ and intensive support than mainstream providers.

“Our aim is to provide advice tailored to the client’s individual needs and circumstances, and to offer a comprehensive assistance package covering all bases.”

SES currently works directly with 77 North East social enterprises with a combined turnover of £12.74m and nearly 750 employees.  These include notable successes like the £3m turnover social enterprise Sunderland and North Tyneside Home Care Associates (SHCA) and Compass Transport. 

The Sunderland centre will nurture social enterprise businesses like Lynn Summerside’s Sit n’ b’ Fit which delivers therapeutic exercise, movement and dance tailored to older people and those with mobility or other health issues.

With the help of SES and new facilities, Lynn hopes to build her business in the mould of SHCA, which employs more than 300 staff delivering care to people in their own home.  SHCA, which was built up by local woman Margaret Elliott OBE, plans to move the business to the new centre when it opens.

The North Shields hub will be housed in the former Town Mission building, with 190m2 of space providing accommodation of varying sizes to suit different social and community start ups with shared meeting rooms, conference facilities, office equipment and amenities.

The Sunderland hub will be a purpose-built development of 660m2 providing an environmentally sustainable and versatile facility constructed of reconditioned shipping containers.  Located on brownfield land in Hendon, there will be the facility to join units together or to unbolt them to create workspaces of almost any size or shape.

“SES has over 25 years of practical business experience in supporting and developing social and community enterprise and the growth of self-employment in North East England,” added One North East Head of Business, Enterprise and Skills Tim Pain.

“The development of enterprise talents, the growth of self-employment and successful social enterprises all offer people alternative routes out of inequality and poverty.”

The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 managed by One North East is bringing over £300m into North East England.  The SES project delivers Enterprise Coaching, Business Premises and Business Growth: Specialist Facilities and Environment funding under Solutions for Business, the Government’s package of publicly funded business support designed to help companies start and grow.

SES has been working in partnership with Back on the Map, the New Deal for Communities regeneration programme for the Hendon and East End areas of Sunderland, to deliver the Enterprising Community Zone project.  The container city development will represent a lasting legacy of the three year project to boost enterprise in the area and create jobs.

Stephen Croft, housing and development manager at Back on the Map, the New Deal for Communities regeneration programme for Hendon and the East End, said: "Back on the Map acquired a key gateway site in Hendon and we are delighted that the new owners SES will be delivering such an ambitious project. The development of this site is an integral part of the ongoing regeneration of the area."
 
For further information on SES call 0191 565 0476 or visit www.ses.coop/
 
For information on the wider range of support available to businesses, please contact Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast

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Media contacts: 

Tom Willcox
European secretariat, One North East
0191 229 6805

Andy Barker
Results Network PR
07855 352 303