Fledgling firms on their marks for success

A Newcastle employment agency, a North Shields training business, a Stockton pub and restaurant and an engineering company from Washington have all scooped business-related prizes worth nearly £3,000 in Business Link's Great North Run Your Own Business campaign.

The campaign, which ran from November last year until April, aimed to raise awareness of the support available from Business Link to start-up companies in the Tyne and Wear area.

Targeted at people looking to set up their own companies, the campaign involved information leaflets being distributed at events around the region including jobs fairs, college enrolment nights and Metro Centre promotions.

Hundreds of entries were received and the winners were presented with their prizes at the Business Innovation Centre in Sunderland.

Former Olympic athlete Mike McLeod, director of his own small business, Abacus Print and Design, and winner of the first Great North Run back in 1981, handed over the awards.

Steve Brown, who is about to set up an employment agency for theatre and live entertainment staff, scooped the top prize of a computer.

Helen Barlow of S.E.L. North East Ltd, in Washington, won the second prize of a web site, specially designed by Urban River to promote her company.

John Adamson, of the Castle Eden Inn, won office equipment provided by the Business Furniture Centre in Middlesbrough and Jim Elder, of Elder Training, picked up a Sage accounts package.

Carole Taylor of Business Link was delighted at the success of the "Great North Run Your Own Business" project.

She said: "We wish Helen, Steve, John and Jim every success with their businesses and hope these prizes help them achieve their dreams. We had an excellent response to the campaign, which made hundreds of budding entrepreneurs aware of the wide range of support available to them."

To find out about more about the support available when starting your own business, contact Business Link Tyne and Wear on 0191-516 6767