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Support Available To Businesses

About the Project

The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is a fully-funded service that delivers a range of business support services to ambitious innovators, creative thinkers and businesses of all sizes across Northumberland.

The service has a particular focus on supporting rural businesses to unlock the barriers to growth for businesses and start-ups.

The North East Rural Growth Programme, delivering as Northumberland Small Business Service, is funded by the North East Combined Authority, with Northumberland County Council as lead Delivery Partner supported by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, Food and Drink North East Limited and North East Enterprise Agency.

The friendly, approachable, and dedicated team are on hand to bridge the economic gap for rural businesses and entrepreneurs, and provide a one-stop shop for businesses looking for support from the service or to help them understand about the wider support available across Northumberland.

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Support & Funding Services Available

The Northumberland Small Business Service is on hand to support your business growth no matter what stage your business is at. The Northumberland Small Business Service features four main strands of support; Enterprise and Start Up Support, Growth & Resilience Support, Food and Drink Sector support and a Farming Advisory Service. The collaborative nature of the service means that you and your business receives tailored support to help make a positive impact on your business journey.

Once registered on the programme, business owners will be matched with a dedicated Business Adviser who will work with you to understand your business, identify opportunities, and develop a tailored plan for growth.

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If you’re thinking about starting a business or have a new idea you’d like to explore, the Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is here to help.
Through our partnership with the North East Enterprise Agency, we offer dedicated support for pre-start businesses and individuals aged 16 and over who are looking to turn their business idea into reality.

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Delivered in partnership with Food and Drink North East, this tailored support is designed to help Northumberland’s food and drink businesses grow and succeed.

Through the Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS), eligible businesses can access specialist advice and guidance tailored to the unique opportunities and challenges within the food and drink sector.

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The NSBS programme also offers a service specifically for Farm enterprises in Northumberland to assist in the growth and resilience of farming businesses as well as exploring opportunities for diversification.

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Project Objectives

The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) will initially run for three years from April 2026 until March 2029.

The North East Rural Growth Programme, delivering as Northumberland Small Business Service, is funded by the North East Combined Authority, with Northumberland County Council as lead Delivery Partner supported by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, Food and Drink North East Limited and North East Enterprise Agency.The dedicated team will support your businesses through all stages of growth from ideas to implementation, growing into new markets and tracking your businesses impact on the rural economy such as job creation.

The service aims to support eligible micro-medium sized businesses, social enterprises, entrepreneurs, and sole traders within Northumberland.

The initiative will strengthen rural economies by providing tailored advice and services to rural businesses with an emphasis on micro and small enterprises, residents looking to start a new business, farming and land-based industries, and the food and drink sector.

It aims to build business resilience, foster innovation, and support the diversification and scaling opportunities while creating quality jobs and sustainable growth in rural communities. By supporting the rural community throughout the lifetime of the project, NSBS aims to provide a positive, long term and sustainable change to businesses within the Northumberland rural network.

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Project Goals:

  • Supporting the growth and resilience of businesses in Northumberland and bridging the support for rural businesses through expert support
  • Supporting with the creation of new enterprises across Northumberland.
  • Understanding the needs of businesses on the programme and successfully identifying any “pain points” and delivering a personal service to support with business needs.
  • Creating a transparent route where rural businesses can apply for funding to put towards innovative infrastructure to support with their business growth.
  • Delivering tailored support to help rural businesses to grow.
  • Driving investment into the rural community through the grant to create and safeguard jobs.
  • Deliver sector specific support to the Food & Drink businesses across Northumberland

Eligbility Criteria

Growth & Resilience Support 

Available to all businesses / enterprises) located in Northumberland.

Food & Drink Support

Available to all Food & Drink businesses / enterprises located in Northumberland.

Enterprise and Start Up Support

Available to Northumberland residents aged 16+ and at pre-start stage or with a business idea (including social enterprises) located across Northumberland.

Farming Advisory Service

Available to all farm businesses located within Northumberland.

Eligible sectors:

The NSBS programme is open to businesses from across Northumberland, regardless of sector. We do not impose restrictions on the type of business, with one key exception: businesses or activities that could bring the Council or funders into disrepute are not eligible. This includes, but is not limited to, activities related to gambling, vaping, pornography, or any other sectors considered socially or legally sensitive.
If your business does not fall into these categories, you are welcome to register and access support.

Other Business Support Available

Networking Business Registration

Register To Access Networking Events 

If you do not have a business name, please use your FULL NAME
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Not registered? Check your eligibility and submit your application here