MORE than 100 North-East businesses have received support to gain access to funding, training and apprenticeship support.

Peterlee Business Park Group held an event to highlight programmes and cash pots available to new and growing small and medium-sized firms to back expansion plans.

The event, at East Durham College, in Peterlee, included an expert panel featuring the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, Business and Enterprise Group, the National Apprenticeship Service, Growth Accelerators and North East Finance.

Steve Metcalfe, chairman of the steering group running Peterlee Business Park Group, said: “When we questioned businesses to find out what they were most interested in learning more about, access to finance came out on top.

“We wanted to make sure there was a mix of organisations exhibiting so companies of all sizes and sectors could tap into their expertise.

“From the feedback we've had, businesses now have a much clearer understanding of who to go to depending on what their priorities are.

“Many of them came away with a real chance to secure financial support.”