North East Growth Programme Announces Free Workshops for Small Businesses

A series of free sales and marketing workshops for North East SMEs have been announced by industry body NEPIC (North East Process Industry Cluster).

NEPIC, who is delivering a free SME Growth programme for North East SMEs, has commissioned the workshops to arm companies with the right skills to help their small businesses achieve great things.

Through this workshop launch, NEPIC is seeking growth-orientated SMEs to join the programme and benefit from the free mentoring service and training sessions that, in many cases, amount to weeks of free business support.

The initial seven workshops, which will be rolled out in January 2017, will focus on sales and marketing techniques incorporating strategy, prospecting, social media, pitching and sales closing. Training will also specifically support selling into the chemical-processing sector markets regionally, nationally and internationally.

Training programmes will be delivered in partnership with local firms Durham Lane, New Results Training and RTC North.

This latest announcement follows the programme launch that saw NEPIC secure further funding to help small-medium sized businesses become established suppliers to the region’s chemical-processing industry.

In April 2016, the firm confirmed a successful European Development fund bid via the North East LEP, which enabled the continuation of its work in helping SMEs access this vital sector through a unique industry mentoring approach.

The SME Growth programme is a direct spin-off from the Cluster’s hugely successful Business Acceleration for SMEs project that mentored 420 businesses in £50 million of new sales and generated over 1,000 jobs.

Programme manager and industry specialist, Philip Aldridge, commented:

“Industry’s message is loud and clear. They want to buy locally from a strong regional supply chain that can support a growing sector long into the future – and they are prepared to put the leg work in to achieve it. Through their support of this programme they offer invaluable knowledge and advice, coupled with direct access to an established network.

He continued:

“Our model is simple, yet highly effective and there are no catches. This is a fully funded programme designed to arm local suppliers with the skills, approach and contacts that will enable them to play a strong role in the success of the sector and ultimately help them achieve business growth.

“We urge businesses to get in touch today, find out more and tap into this vital free support.”

The programme, which is supported by 170 industrialists from across the region, is a fully funded ERDF scheme, matched by industry and will support eligible SMEs (based in Durham, Tyneside, Wearside and Northumberland) from 2016-2018 inclusive.

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