Toby Bridges

We work to make the North East a place where more businesses invest, grow and prosper - delivering more and better jobs for everyone. We are responsible for delivering the North East Strategic Economic Plan. The Plan details how we will work together with partners, businesses and communities in an innovative, pro-active and cohesive way, to implement the Plan’s ambitions. It focuses on six key areas: innovation, skills, business support and access to finance, employability and inclusion and transport and digital connectivity. We act as a champion for the area, bringing public and private investment into the area. This includes a £290m North East Growth Deal and £460m allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds. We work with partners to create the right environment for growth, through our North East Investment Fund, Enterprise Zone and investment in transport. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership covers County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. It is business led and governed by a private and public sector board, chaired by former PwC senior partner Paul Woolston.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum brings together like-minded business owners to share experience and help each other grow their companies faster. Founded in 2002 as a not-for-profit organisation by Sir Peter Vardy and Lorna Moran OBE, weve grown from 40 founding members to over 300 North East entrepreneurs. Joining from all sectors, our members regularly meet at inspirational events and through peer-to-peer mentoring to share ideas, make valuable new connections and learn from those who have been there and done it all before. Helping North East entrepreneurs is our only agenda and, by providing a vibrant events environment, we help entrepreneurs to feel empowered to create and grow their businesses, innovate, take risks, move forward and fulfil their ambitions.

We work to make the North East a place where more businesses invest, grow and prosper - delivering more and better jobs for everyone. We are responsible for delivering the North East Strategic Economic Plan. The Plan details how we will work together with partners, businesses and communities in an innovative, pro-active and cohesive way, to implement the Plan’s ambitions. It focuses on six key areas: innovation, skills, business support and access to finance, employability and inclusion and transport and digital connectivity. We act as a champion for the area, bringing public and private investment into the area. This includes a £290m North East Growth Deal and £460m allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds. We work with partners to create the right environment for growth, through our North East Investment Fund, Enterprise Zone and investment in transport. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership covers County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. It is business led and governed by a private and public sector board, chaired by former PwC senior partner Paul Woolston.

“Connecting and Supporting Businesses” North Tyneside Business Forum is here to create a supportive network for businesses in North Tyneside and ensure local business is well connected. It is our aim to be the lead support organisation for the business community in North Tyneside; encouraging economic growth, employment, sustainability and corporate responsibility. The Business Forum can put members straight to the heart of local business by accessing the most relevant support organisations, providing dedicated communications and hosting events on what businesses in the borough want to be at. So whether you’re looking for advice, new premises, funding info, or just a chat with a like-minded colleague from the local business community, the North Tyneside Business Forum can make the link and get you the support you need.