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Operations Toolkit

Business operations refers to all the activities and procedures a company undertakes to create and deliver its products or services.  To achieve successful growth and ensure the smooth running of any business, it’s important to have the right processes and procedures in place. This toolkit is designed to support you with your business operations. Explore the useful resources, schemes and insights.

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How digital and smart technologies can decarbonise your operations

 

Julia Austin is Advanced Manufacturing Programme Manager at the North East Combined Authority. Here, she explains how manufacturers can make use of digital and smart technologies to decarbonise their operations. 

The decarbonisation of manufacturing is the industry’s biggest challenge, but it is also a significant opportunity. The pressure and scrutiny on the sector to be more sustainable is ramping up, and it’s coming from all directions too, including employees, customers, the government, investors, regulators, and the communities in which manufacturers operate.

To make things greener, we need to start by making things smarter. And that’s where digital and smart technologies come in.

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Useful resources

Useful downloads, guides, and other resources to help you manage your operations.

Navigating Data Protection for SMEs: Tips for Success

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is here to guide SMEs in adopting the right data protection practices that can sustain and elevate their businesses.

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How small businesses can protect themselves from cyber-attacks

Hear about what businesses can do to protect themselves from cyber-attacks, and support on offer from the North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC).

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Made Smarter Adoption North East

By taking part in Made Smarter Adoption North East, Gateshead-based Deal Direct Blinds was able to invest in a new, state of the art roller blind table to make its manufacturing processes more precise and more efficient. 

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Building a pipeline of talent for the future

By working with schools and colleges in the North East through North East Ambition, your business can create strong links with the next generation of employees.

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UK research and Innovation

Launched in April 2018, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) link forward thinking businesses with the UK's world class knowledge bases to deliver innovation projects led by inspired graduates.

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The link between business growth, productivity and innovation

It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it!

Business & Sector Growth Director, Colin Bell, explores the relationship between innovation as a driver for business growth and productivity.

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Skills development

Helping an employee to learn whilst they work in your business is a great way to develop a motivated, skilled, and qualified team.

Find a course

Talk to one of our team who will help you connect to the support you need to grow and develop your business.

if your local authority isn't listed above, you can view details of how to get in touch with your local Growth Hub

Operations schemes 

Find out more about the schemes on offer across the region.

Pathways to Innovation

Open to businesses and social enterprises based in Gateshead, Pathways to Innovation looks to help enterprises overcome the barriers preventing them from accessing innovation and growth, both individually and as a region.
Business support Gateshead Operations
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North of Tyne Business Support Fund

A fund designed to drive economic growth by helping businesses to access external expertise to implement business growth and improvement plans.
Finance & funding Grant Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Finance Operations
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Invest Newcastle

Invest Newcastle is an award-winning investment promotion agency working to drive economic growth, secure capital investment and attract companies to locate, expand and thrive in Newcastle.
Business support Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Operations
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Help to Grow: Management Essentials

Help to Grow: Management Essentials is a free, online course that explains the essential business concepts required for growth.
Business support Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Leadership Operations
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Sunderland Innovate and Grow

Sunderland Innovate and Grow (SIG) brings together a range of complementary activities to catalyse and support innovation and business growth in the city.
Business support Trading business Sunderland People and skills Products and services Operations
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Wear Together Initiative

Wear Together provides social entrepreneurs in Sunderland with access to business support and grants assisting them with start, development, and growth of social businesses.
Finance & funding Grant Business support Start-up Trading business Sunderland Finance Operations
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Local Women Local Enterprise

Local Women Local Enterprise, a project by The Millin Charity, provides specialist enterprise support for women in Gateshead and Newcastle.
Business support Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Gateshead People and skills Operations
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Gateshead Business Innovation & Growth

Gateshead BIG is a brand new programme, delivered exclusively by Smarta, for established companies based in Gateshead that have ambitions to scale-up their operations.
Business support Trading business Gateshead Leadership Operations
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News and insights

In conversation with Lewis Caseley, Commercial Director of Northumberland-based energy business Solar Capture Technologies, about accessing business support through the North East Growth Hub

Please introduce your business, Solar Capture Technologies Solar Capture Technologies design, develop and manufacture high quality bespoke solar PV (photovo...
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