Enterprising North

Specialist business and enterprise support for people living and trading in rural areas of Northumberland and Gateshead.

What is Enterprising North?

Here at the Rural Design Centre, our speciality is supporting rural enterprise. We understand the additional challenges rural business can face, such as access to markets, digital connectivity, finding skilled labour and networking. We’re on hand to help make it easier, with our specialist rural business advisors.

Individual support

We offer a range of services, both in-person and online, to help you achieve your aims and make your new business succeed.

One-to-one support
Free, tailored and delivered within your community. Our rural start-up advisors work in towns, villages and hamlets throughout Northumberland and the rural parts of Gateshead too. If online appointments are more accessible, we offer those too.

Business planning
We’ll help you identify the needs of your customers and design the products and services that succeed. We’ll support the development of your ideas, considering what’s needed to make them a reality.

Financial support
We can help you examine your personal and business finances, to ensure your business will meet your financial needs and succeed in the future. If you need startup funding, we can help you access this.

E-learning
Access flexible, on-line business training, available 24/7. It’s packed with insights you can apply to your businesses straight away.

Rural business & enterprise clinics

Our convenient drop-in sessions offer business advice in rural communities across Northumberland. You can visit us, float your ideas and discover what business support is available in your area. Open to startups and businesses already trading. Clinics take place in:

  • Amble at Amble Development Trust

  • Bellingham at Tyne Rede Accountancy

  • Belford at Bell View Centre

  • Berwick upon Tweed at Berwick Library

  • Haltwhistle at The Old Ticket Office, Haltwhistle Station

  • Rothbury at Muckles Yard

  • Seahouses at The Hub, Seahouses Development Trust

  • Wooler at The Cheviot Centre

Read more about when, where and how to arrange an appointment.

Get in touch

Get in touch with our Rural Business Advisors and we’ll go from there. It all starts with a conversation.

The programme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and brings together business support providers from across the region to provide expert advice, guidance and exciting opportunities to help turn your business idea or early-stage venture into a reality. For more information visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus.