MORE than 1,000 jobs will be created in the North-East with the help of £9m of European funding, it has been forecast.

The money, from the European Regional Development Fund, will be used by Business Link Tyne and Wear and its partners to help an estimated 6,000 small firms boost their productivity.

It will fund a project called the Brokerage Model which offers support, training and advice to allow small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access the support they need throughout their development.

David Slater, business group director of the Government Office North East, said: "We are delighted to work with Business Link on this project. The European funding represents another milestone in our work to ensure North-East businesses have access to the best support available to help them work to their full potential.

"It will ensure that the talents of our entrepreneurs is nurtured, promoted and given scope to grow, making sure that North-East businesses are well equipped to compete on a global stage."

The assessment, which is free to all SMEs, will pick up on areas where the business needs further development and suggest suitable suppliers to help address the need.

A subsidy is then paid to the business to help it buy the required support.

The pilot project will start in Tyne and Wear in January, and will be extended across the region.