A BUSINESS service has helped more companies than ever before to start up.
Business Link has worked with 34,344 customers and has helped create 4,384 new businesses during the last year in North East England.
The figure is an increase of almost 15 per cent on the previous financial year.
Business Link has also provided a
substantial programme of practical workshops and events throughout the region.
These included over 700 pre-start workshops along with major exhibitions such as The North East Regional Business Fair in February 2009.
It matched almost 2,000 buyers and suppliers from across the region's major business sectors and provided opportunities for companies to make contacts and generate new business.
Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business & Enterprise North East, which delivers the region's Business Link service, said: "These results are very encouraging and demonstrate the continuing vigour of our business community. They also underline the commitment and successful work of the Business Link team.
"However, there is still a huge amount of work to be done to ensure that North East England meets the challenges of the current economic downturn and is best placed to take advantage when the upturn comes."
