FIRST

FIRST is an accredited learning agency providing communities with practical enterprise and entrepreneurial experiences to develop leadership and progression skills. FIRST encourages and empowers students, job seekers, aspiring and early-stage business owners, and professionals to discover their passion, develop their enterprise skills, explore opportunities/ideas, gather, and evaluate resources, and turn their plans into actions.

Early Stage Founders

FIRST provides dedicated support to ambitious founders and is actively working to enhance startup business rates and essential skills.

They offer a range of valuable resources including:

• Workshops and Training
• Community Network Events
• Pitching Competitions
• Bespoke Activities

Find out more.

Free Level 1 Qualification in Understanding Enterprise

This course develops your skills and empowers you to pursue your passion to either get that dream job, learn about self-employment or explore entrepreneurship. It gives you:

• An industry recognised accredited Level 1 qualification.
• 3 essential modules that focus on professional development, confidence, and skills within business startup and employability.
• Connections with peers, unique and fun course facilitators and 121 support from the FIRST team to help you reach your goals.

Eligibility

To access the course free of charge you must be:

• Aged Over 19 (as of 1st August 2021)
• A resident in the UK or Europe for 3+ years
• Living in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland or Durham.

Register today to book your place.

Free Level 2 Startup: Customer Ready Qualification

For people ready to start and grow their business.

The level 2 course is in-depth and offers:

• An industry recognised accredited Level 2 qualification.
• Relevant modules such as principles of marketing and selling in a new business, understanding the challenges of starting a new business and, understanding finance and negotiation of deals in a new business.
• Additional learning outcomes will include business planning, building profitable business relationships and application of skills.

Register today to book your place.

Eligibility

To access the course free of charge you must be:

• Aged Over 19 (as of 1st August 2021)
• A resident in the UK or Europe for 3+ years
• Living in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland or Durham.

Startup Awards North East

Startup Awards North East provides a platform for those interested in starting a business and business owners/founders to showcase their business ideas, network with like-minded entrepreneurs, connect with experts and investors, and compete for prizes that empower positive business actions.

For more information and to register your interest, please click here.

Free Qualification in Navigating the Numbers Finance made easy with Sage

A fully-funded business accounting course is the perfect opportunity for those who want to improve their knowledge and confidence to become self-employed.

Suitable for:

• Those interested or registered as self-employed
• Those looking for work in administration or finance
• Those looking to update their CV with useful and valuable qualifications employers want

Eligibility

To access the course free of charge you must be:

• 19+
• Lives or works in Sunderland
• Does not have an A-C GCSE in maths

Register today to book your place.