Start-up Toolkit

If you have a great business idea and you’re ready to start your own company, this toolkit will provide all information, help and support you need to get started.

Home ToolkitsBusiness Start-up Toolkit

Need a hand to get started?

Don’t know where to start? Check out these resources that are designed for people with a great idea that need a bit of support to make it reality.

Free start-up guides

These guides from the British Business Bank are full of practical tips and examples- from advice on conducting market research, to analysing your strengths and weaknesses, to finding more customers online.

Download the guides

Forbes Advisor start-up resources

The Forbes Advisor Start-up resources walk you through ten crucial steps of the start-up process, from defining your initial idea to registering, launching and growing your business.

Find out more

Government Start-up Loans

Find out more about the British Business Bank's start-up loans.

Find out more

Google Digital Garage

Free, online courses from Google to help you grow your business.

Take a look

Start-up insights

Why you don’t need to be an expert in everything to start a successful business

Janice Ross started work at 17, choosing a career over university. She built her knowledge gradually and eventually started her own marketing business, deliv...

From idea to reality: using the Business Model Canvas tool in a startup business

Renée Fraser-Shepherd came up with the idea for her business, Sloobie Skiwear, while at university and used the Business Model Canvas to help develop her bus...

How a new music app connecting venues and fans is going from strength to strength after support from the North East Growth Hub

Three years ago, Matt Gray and Ben Kindlan created Gigco, an app which shows music fans all the live events happening near them. Now, with a core team of six...

Be inspired by more start-up stories

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

Please confirm which local authority area the business operates from:

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

Schemes

Find out more about the start-up schemes on offer across the region.

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II – Equity Finance

As part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Maven are offering Equity finance up to £5 million for ambitious businesses located across the North East of England.

Finance & funding Equity Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

View

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II – Smaller Loans

As part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II NEL are offering Smaller Loans from £25,000 to £100,000

Finance & funding Loan Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

View

Hartree Centre - Collaborative Data Projects

These collaborative data projects are up to 12 weeks in duration and give you access to a fully-funded, wide range of expertise across a team of data scientists and data engineers.

Business support Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Products and services

View

Esports Business Cluster

The Esports Business Cluster (the first and only in the UK) aims to create and support businesses already actively working or seeking to work within the esports sector.

Business support Start-up Trading business Sunderland People and skills Products and services

View

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

View

AXA Startup Angel

Helping entrepreneurs make their business dreams a reality. Win £25,000 startup funding to kick-start your business.

Finance & funding Grant Business support Start-up Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

View

Local Women Local Enterprise Gateshead

Local Women Local Enterprise Gateshead, a project by The Millin Charity, provides specialist enterprise support for women in Gateshead.

Business support Start-up Gateshead People and skills Operations

View

SONIC Labs -Technology Access Programme

SONIC Labs Technology Access Programme (TAP) is an 8-month structured programme developed by Digital Catapult in collaboration with Ofcom, running from June 2024 to January 2025.

Business support Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Leadership People and skills

View

See all schemes