IT’S an appropriate piece of timing – halfway through Lord Sugar’s return to our TV screens with his new Junior Apprentice programme we marked European SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Week.

The initiative, which came to an end yesterday, was aimed at promoting entrepreneurship so that more people, particularly in younger age groups, seriously consider becoming an entrepreneur as a career option.

It is also used to provide information about what the EU, national, regional and local authorities are offering as support to SMEs.

Many events took place in the North-East, as entrepreneurs found out more about what their local enterprise scene looks like.

The North East Chamber of Commerce ran a seminar with the North East England Office in Brussels last Thursday to help SMEs find out how they can access EU networks and support to break into other European countries.

The small businesses which attended heard speakers from the Enterprise Europe Network, Diverse Energy and UK Trade and Investment talk about opportunities available for small businesses in the region.

The North-East has always had a strong entrepreneurial history, and new small businesses have an important role to play in securing a sustainable recovery for the region’s economy. Existing and aspiring entrepreneurs must be encouraged to continue their work, rather than be put off by potential difficulties.

European SME week took place as we begin to discover the extent of government cuts on the UK’s public sector – including support for businesses. With full details set to be unveiled on June 22, we must be braced to accept some harsh measures.

That said, the coalition government has made moves to abandon one of the measures that would have severely hampered the efforts of entrepreneurs and small businesses to help deliver the recovery. The rise in National Insurance contributions for employers would have made it punishingly hard for small firms to recruit staff, something which the economy could have illafforded right now.

In the same way that the private sector must work with the public sector to build a strong economy, North-East businesses must also be ready to offer advice and support where required to make sure that the current crop of entrepreneurs maintains the standard set by previous generations.

We need to make the most of opportunities such as European SME Week to ensure that the budding business leaders currently facing Lord Sugar are to be able to make an impact when their turn comes.

■ James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce.