Open North Foundation

Bridging the Gap

Open North Foundation is a not for profit company dedicated to assisting the businesses and people of the North East to recover from the ravages of COVID-19. We will also support companies that were established during COVID and can show a credible business plan and demonstrate sustainable progress.

Objectives

• Support business and social enterprises, including the funding of education and training for employees and potential employees.
• Establish business and social enterprises / or develop existing business and social enterprises.
• Develop the capacity and skills of individuals to realise further potential.

Grant Applications

Grants will range from £1,000 to £5,000.

Exceptional requests may be considered by the Board. Only in exceptional circumstances can a beneficiary receive payment more than once.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they had a healthy business before COVID-19, that they have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and that our targeted assistance of a cash grant and/or training can assist their recovery.

We will also support businesses that were established during COVID-19 and can demonstrate a credible business plan and sustainable progress.

From December 2021 we have broadened our scope further to support any existing North East business impacted by the measures to combat the Omicron variant.

In addition to the above, as we hopefully continue to move away from significant Covid impacts, unrelated to Covid we will now also support small and early stage businesses which have a compelling case but have been adversely affected by recent economic shocks. ONF has a particular emphasis on supporting personnel development, training and apprenticeships.

As for all other applicants they will need to demonstrate clear negative impact with evidence and also how they can benefit from the free cash grants and training and consultancy services we offer. We will consider all needs but we do prefer to be able to support existing jobs and business sustainability. Applications would be viewed more favourably if they were also able to demonstrate future job and business growth.

All grants of any type are subject to availability.

Applicants are urged to identify specific training needs in their application to enable us to match our support offer accordingly.

The beneficiary should be willing to promote the support they have received from Open North Foundation and their name may be publicised.

Training & Services - available through our partner

• Energy consultancy services
• Free 1-hour of HR advice/Health Check which could include advice regarding redundancy, rightsizing, operational HR, structuring outplacement services
• Expert support in developing an innovation, technology, product or process
• Business and strategy support
• Leadership and change management
• How to be successful in public affairs
• Understanding grant funding and research and development
• General export support
• Growth planning and costing
• Financial forecasting support and business finance health checks
• Stress management and well-being workshops
• Part-funded placements with our strategic partner, Newcastle Business School’s Small Business Leaders Programme, covering practical and operational topics, including business model innovation; employee engagement; vision and brand; and operational and financial management
• To further support your business, our strategic partner Teesside University Business School, offers a range of fully funded courses for SME’s in the Tees Valley region including; Leading Growth, Management Catalyst and Team Spark
• Mediation services of commercial disputes
• Management of Landlord/tenant matters
• Disputes about, or non-payment of rent, service charge and/or insurance
• Disrepair/dilapidations claims
• Financial planning/forecasting support
• One off tax advisory support
• Research and development tax relief analysis

Submit all applications for grant funding and training via this online application form.