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With support from Durham Business Growth to access valuable grant funding and expertise, Woodland Floors Ltd is driving growth through innovation, efficiency, and upskilling staff.

Business Durham’s Digital Drive County Durham, a £4m programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has supported Max Purpose Psychology to buy new technology and develop new digital skills. 

Healthcare technology is such a perfect example of the strength of UK research and innovation on the world stage because companies like Scottish start-up Manus Neurodynamica are developing real solutions to conditions that - despite the advance of modern medicine - still require digital solutions to further improve the standards of care.

Watch this video to see how a business has benefited from support from Durham Business Growth and learn how your business could too!

When you’re running a business on your own, every minute counts. Investing in digital technologies can make a real difference to your profitability, as Paul Harper Owner of Zedcomms found, after accessing Business Durham’s Digital Drive County Durham programme.

LED By Vision’s positive experience of the free Growth Service has helped them get huge traction with their new Smart System – EnabLED. The business has received new custom as a direct result of their work with the Growth Hub, as well as mentoring and support with their overall strategy.

New machinery purchased with the support of the North of Tyne Growth Fund is driving efficiencies and attracting more work for diecasting foundry and machine shop, Norfran.

Building More than a Bike Shop: Inspiral Cycles’ Community-Centred Approach was supported by the Durham Business Growth Programme through funding and mentorship.

With over 30 years’ experience in conveyor belting, read about how GB Belting accessed a grant from Tees Valley Business Compass, which is delivered by UMi, and used it to purchase three machines which then created two new roles within the company.

Photographer Ritchie Coatsworth, who owns his own studio in Crook, saw enquiries flood in within hours of attending a Digital Drive County Durham social media workshop.

In common with many businesses, Andrew Hall, an expert in woodturning and owner of Hallwood Hats, found his business’ survival threatened by the coronavirus lockdown. Forced to re-evaluate his business model, the County Durham-based entrepreneur says financial support and business advice from Digital Drive has given him and his business a new lease of life.

Training with a master barber after leaving school in 1979, Iain Kane has seen many changes in men’s fashions and in his business since then. Now, the Langley Park-based entrepreneur is hoping to take his business further with the launch of his new, upscaled e-commerce website, supported by Digital Drive County Durham.

Durham based start-up Aniseed Creative is off to a great start, finding new clients and a supportive network through the Durham Ambitious Business Start-ups (DABS) programme. 

A £500,000 grant from the North of Tyne Growth Fund (NTGF) is helping Cramlington-based Transmission Dynamics to build a new hybrid office, warehouse and engineering facility to accommodate its expanding team and realise its growth potential, with 50 new jobs on the horizon.

An £80,000 grant from the North of Tyne Growth Fund (NTGF) has enabled document management specialist Datatron to successfully bid for a five-year NHS contract. The new warehouse investment boosts the company’s long-term growth potential and will bring more work to the North East, securing and creating over eight new jobs.

County Durham-based entrepreneur Tony Neville has seen demand soar for his retail consultancy since investing in digital equipment to expand his services with the support of Digital Drive County Durham. 

The government’s Business Support Service for England offers advice and guidance to new and existing businesses. It has information on national and local schemes, grants and loans to help businesses start and grow.

Running from January 2020 to August 2023, the North of Tyne Growth Fund was established to provide grant support to SMEs in Northumberland, North Tyneside, and Newcastle local authority areas. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the scheme was aimed at capital investment projects that showcased potential for both growth and job creation. 

UMi Debt Finance Scotland provides loan capital to small and medium sized businesses across Scotland. The £12m fund helps accelerate the growth of businesses in Scotland, complementing other private and public sector forms of funding. The Fund typically advances loans of £25,001 and £250,000 to support actively trading Scottish businesses. 

VentureFest North East 2025 was the return of the region's premier innovation conference. The event brought together over 700 entrepreneurs, SMEs, investors, and industry leaders for a day dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth.

Tees Valley Securing Investment addressed long-standing barriers facing the region’s businesses in accessing money by connecting enterprises with investors and funds. The project received £880,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s UKSPF programme of support. 

Ignite Space was a two-day national event designed to open doors to the fast-growing UK space economy. Delivered by UMi on behalf of the UK Space Agency, both in 2024 and 2025, the event was hosted at the iconic locations of the National Space Centre in Leicester and Leeds Royal Armouries

These two campaigns showcased the remarkable achievements of the businesses who received funding support from Digital Enterprise (DE) through two digital publications and an in-print version for DE30, as well as a wrap-up event for each project.

The Tees Valley Business Summit is an annual event that welcomes exhibiting businesses, industry leaders, owners and managers from across Tees Valley, alongside a busy schedule of workshops and networking.