COMPANIES in the borough of Sedgefield have been given a boost to their start-up and expansion plans.

Eleven companies have shared more than £20,000 of grant aid from SBBS, a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the development agency for the borough, Sasda.

Bynew Pine, a new start company due to open its pine furniture manufacturing business at the new Shildon Business Centre later this month, received £6,000 to assist with start-up costs. The company intends to create 14 jobs in the next three years.

Having seen the woodworking facilities available to occupants in the managed workshops at the Shildon Business Centre at Dabble Duck Industrial Estate in Shildon, Dave Newby and Andrew Dine, directors of Bynew Pine, decided to take tenancy of two adjacent 3,000 sq ft units.

Dave Newby said: "There are many factors which have attracted myself and Andrew to set up our company in Shildon.

"The advice and support from the business advisors at SBBS is easily accessible given the Business Centre is also situated on the Dabble Duck Industrial Estate.

"Use of the woodworking equipment in the communal workshops has meant our initial outlay to start up the business has been greatly reduced and we can continue to make use of the facilities for volume production."

Since April, 27 companies in the borough have benefited from grant assistance. Between them they plan to create more than 200 new jobs.