North East Rural Growth Programme (Northumberland, Durham, Gateshead)

Part of the North East Rural Growth Programme (2026-2029) funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority

The North East Rural Growth Programme (Northumberland, Durham, Gateshead) provides targeted support to help rural businesses across the North East start, grow and become more resilient.

Support is available to eligible individuals and businesses across rural Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead, with specialist regional support also available to eligible businesses across the wider North East Mayoral Strategic Authority area.

Depending on your individual needs and business goals, support may include:

Enterprise & Start-up Support – helping individuals and new businesses develop their ideas, start trading and build strong foundations for future growth.

Growth & Resilience Support – tailored support to help rural businesses strengthen performance, improve productivity and build resilience.

Food & Drink Support – specialist sector support for eligible food and drink businesses across the North East.

North East Farm Business Support Service – dedicated specialist support for eligible farm businesses across the North East.

An initial conversation with a Business Engagement Officer will help us understand your business, your ambitions and the challenges or opportunities you are facing. We can then identify the most appropriate support and, where relevant, connect you with specialist regional services.

Support available

Enterprise & Start-up Support

Enterprise & Start-up Support is available to eligible individuals at the early stages of developing a business idea or starting a new enterprise in rural areas across Durham, Gateshead and Northumberland.

Whether you are exploring a new business idea, preparing to start trading or have recently launched, support can help you understand what is involved and develop a clear plan for moving forward.

Support may include:

• Developing and testing your business idea
• Business planning and setting objectives
• Understanding your market and customers
• Developing your proposition and routes to market
• Financial planning and understanding business costs
• Marketing and digital support
• Identifying appropriate funding and further support
• Guidance to help establish a strong foundation for future growth.

Growth & Resilience Support

Growth & Resilience Support is available to eligible businesses across the rural areas of Durham, Gateshead and Northumberland, looking to strengthen their business, improve performance and take advantage of new opportunities.

Working with a dedicated Business Engagement Officer, you'll receive tailored one-to-one support based on your business goals. Through an initial business diagnostic, we'll help you identify priorities, overcome challenges and develop a practical plan for sustainable growth.

Alongside one-to-one support, you'll also have access to practical workshops and events, delivered both online and in person, covering topics including digital marketing, AI, business planning, social media and workplace organisation.

Businesses with ambitions to grow and create new employment opportunities may also be able to access support from Technical Specialists, providing expert advice in areas such as:

• Financial planning and forecasting
• Marketing and digital strategy
• Sales and accessing new markets
• Innovation and new product development
• Funding and investment
• Legal, tax and procurement guidance
• Productivity and business resilience.

Who can access support?

The North East Rural Growth Programme is focused on supporting businesses and individuals in rural areas of the North East. Eligibility and the support available will depend on your location.

Our team will talk to you about your business or idea and help identify the most appropriate support available through the programme, including specialist regional offers where relevant.

To sign up visit:

Northumberland businesses - northumberlandsmallbusiness.co.uk

Durham businesses - durhambusinessgrowth.co.uk

Gateshead businesses – businessgateshead.co.uk/getintouch

(Eligible wards in Gateshead: Chopwell and Rowlands Gill | Crawcrook and Greenside | Lamesley | Ryton, Crookhill and Stella | Whickham South and Sunniside | Winlaton and High Spen)