Tynedale Enterprise Network stimulates enterprise the North East

The Network, which was set up in 2006, focused on involving the community in stimulating enterprise by engaging with small businesses in remote areas, working with more established businesses to address local economic issues, and nurturing the entrepreneurial talents of young people.

Tynedale is the country’s largest district, covering an area of over 850 square miles, but has a population of just 59,800. Its spectacular environmental landscape includes the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the best of Hadrian’s Wall. As the social, economic and environmental health of the area are deeply interlinked, many businesses are either directly land-based or use the high quality landscape and cultural assets as key drivers for their products.

The geographic remoteness and inaccessibility of the area make it an extremely challenging place for businesses to operate successfully and had led it to be dominated by rural based, private-sector micro-businesses. Additional challenges to enterprise include an inadequate supply of affordable housing and relatively low wage levels; Tynedales lowest paid 10% of full time workers earn less than anywhere else in the country.

As retaining and attracting young people is vital in building a vibrant, healthy, sustainable economy, Tynedale was further disadvantaged in having fifty per cent fewer 20 to 34 year olds than the national average. The Network’s strategy was to encourage young people to stay in the North West, whilst building a buoyant economy attractive to both inward investors and visitors alike. Three innovative activities helped achieve this: integrating different sectors, enabling community led social enterprise to address the needs of small communities and engaging small and micro businesses.

Since its inception, the Network has helped to safeguard over 360 jobs and supported the growth of 81 local businesses. An additional 19 new enterprises have been able to get up and running and over 2,000 local people have been able to get involved in enterprise with the Network’s support.

One major successes is Tynedale Virtual College, which provides better education and training opportunities for Tynedale’s young people in fields such as construction, engineering, hospitality, social care, and tourism. Previously at 16 youngsters faced two alternatives, either leave the area for further education or training, or accept low paying job with limited prospects. A multi-campus approach allows TVC to provide a wide range of vocational learning opportunities and is built around Tynedale’s four high schools in Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Prudhoe and Ponteland.

Most of Tynedale’s local businesses are very small yet play a vital role in the economic life of the area so keeping them growing is crucial. In many cases village stores or inns are important meeting places. Pebbles, a gallery and café run by 40 artists in Allendale that provide gallery and exhibition space on a cooperative basis, as well as retail and food outlets, has, with the help of the Network, developed its own business support service and youth project. Pebbles now has realistic plans to reclaim disused industrial premises in the town centre with the scope for 14 studio workspaces.

Another new initiative is ID8, a fund supporting young peoples’ ideas. Funded by the local council and Leader Plus, the fund has invested £55,000 through 29 different awards since its launch in 2006. Applicants get in touch by text or email and are helped by panel members or teachers to develop their ideas. All decisions about the fund are made after discussion with a panel of young business people from the area. So far ID8 has aided 10 new enterprises and supported the growth of six existing businesses. The diversity of the businesses receiving the awards is vital to the area’s future. ID8’s panel and its award winners all play an active part in encouraging others and acting as role models in local schools and at Grow Your Ideas workshops.

School students Gary Carse and Michael Bailey, received one of the first ID8 awards in 2006, enabling them to set up Batt & Ball, a moving image media and design firm. In 2007, it won national recognition for their animation work at both the MTV awards and from the Royal Television Society. Much of its work is now available on YouTube and after pitching for music video work with well known bands last year, the pair won their first commercial contracts in 2008.

Tim Pain, Head of Business, Enterprise & Skills at One NorthEast, says, “In areas which face significant economic change, such as Tynedale, enterprise is key to diversifying and growing a sustainable local economy. The Tynedale Enterprise Network is an excellent example of a project successfully stimulating enterprise, creating enterprising people and supporting private sector-led development. Being shortlisted for the Enterprising Britain title is a fantastic achievement and a great way of putting the area on the map.”

Tynedale Enterprise Network was the winner of 2008 Enterprising Britain competition for the North East.