One-stop shop plans to expand into Hartlepool

Full Circle North East, based in Novus Business Centre on Peterlee Business Park, is the brain child of cousins Kirsty Campbell and Leanne Knight.

They set it up because of a lack of accessible advice in the Peterlee area.

The service helps people aged 19 and over on becoming entrepreneurs, benefits, health and wellbeing, and community information.

The next step for Kirsty, 28, and Leanne, 32 - both of Brougham Court, Peterlee - is to expand Full Circle North East into the Hartlepool area.

Kirsty, who is also vice-chair of the Durham branch of the charity, National Children Trust (NCT), said: “It was very nerve-wracking leaving our old jobs and launching Full Circle North East, but we’re so glad that we did.”

“Peterlee is massively lacking in a one-stop-shop for people to go to when they require information, advice or guidance on issues they may be experiencing.

“Leanne is a really good trainer, and I’m good at the policy and procedure side of things, so together we do make a good team.”

Leanne said: “Kirsty and I have always been really close from being very young, so it felt natural to go into business together.”

The Full Circle team are currently self-funding the initiative in anticipation of grants and external funding, and have already started to field queries from the public.

The aim of the business is to help at least 100 people within the first year.