vision
34
www.northeastvision.co.uk
north east
THE EUROPEAN UNION � INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE
B
E Enterprising, the County
Durham Local Enterprise
Growth Initiative (LEGI) is
revitalising business and
employment prospects in deprived
former coalfield and rural
communities of County Durham
with the help of �4.1m part finance
investment from the European
Regional Development Fund 2007-13.
The funding secured through One
North East is being used to create 370
jobs, safeguard another 190 and assist
the creation of over 500 small local
businesses.
"The primary beneficiaries of this
enterprise drive are people who live or
work in the most employment
deprived areas of County Durham,"
explained Elliott Patterson from Be
Enterprising.
"Young people and other priority
groups need more one-to-one, client
centred support and more
information on what's available so
that they become enterprise ready
before they are referred to Business
Link.
"This additional investment from the
European Union is allowing us to field
ten more local community enterprise
coaches and two more specialist
business to business advisors. They will
provide more intensive support
covering a greater area and extended
service hours from a wider range of
venues to increase access."
The two-year project is targeting
prospective entrepreneurs and SMEs,
offering more focused franchising
support and more intensive and
specialised business mentoring for
potential high growth start ups and
new businesses. Recent successes
under the programme include
Ashleigh Lovett (22), who has launched
her own freelance dance business.
Young entrepreneur Ashleigh
received funding and support from Be
Enterprising to get her venture up and
running.
Her company specialises in teaching
dance and exercise classes, including
street dance, street cheer, aerobics,
pilates, jump sport classes, hip hop
and modern dance. Ashleigh has
already built up an excellent
reputation in the leisure industry and
has been offered work by
organisations including Durham
County Council, Bowburn Youth
Centre and Willington Drama Group.
For further information about the
project, contact Be Enterprising on
0800 030 4134, or visit
www.be-enterprising.biz
Enterprise funding to
revitalise communities
Ashleigh Lovett
has launched
her own
freelance dance
business with
help from the
Be Enterprising
programme.

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