A project to find and nurture business talent is under way in the North-East.

Universities across the region are taking part in a national programme funded by the Learning and Skills Council which will help potential entrepreneurs in disadvantaged areas.

The New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) scheme is delivered at local level by university business schools. Durham, Teesside, Sunderland and Northumbria are supporting the scheme.

NES supports people with plans to succeed in business, but who find it difficult to obtain support and funding.

Those taking part join in a series of interactive workshops at the business school, which offer the opportunity to develop personal skills, together with a series of business planning sessions and one-to-one tutorials for individual support.

Continued learning is supported with access to computer and library resources at the business school.

Rachel Orange, of Durham Business School, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds to access a learning environment that will support them in their entrepreneurial aspirations, and to obtain a substantial amount of start-up funding that may otherwise be unavailable to them.

"It is a chance for many people to fulfil their dreams of turning a business idea into a real venture."

Those who successfully complete their programmes will receive a bursary of up to £3,500 to cover start-up costs.