New helpline aims to boost jobs by offering support to businesses

A NEW business support helpline is being launched in North Yorkshire targeted at people who are considering starting a new business we all as existing companies.

The helpline is part of Yorkshire Coast Business Gateway – a £2.1m programme that aims to improve economic performance within the Scarborough area by increasing the number of business start-ups, improving business survival rates and creating jobs.

It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is being delivered by a partnership that includes Scarborough Borough Council, Yorkshire Coast College, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Seachange.

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The borough council says the programme is already proving to be a big success. Up to the end of March, the project has engaged more than 350 people interested in starting a new business, resulting in 30 new companies being created.

The project has also helped 28 existing business across the borough with a range of issues including marketing, workforce development and access to finance.

The new helpline will be open five days a week, between 9.15am and 5pm but requests for support can also be emailed to [email protected] which, it is claimed, will be replied to within one working day.

Services and support are available that cover a wide range of issues for start-ups and existing businesses including sales and marketing, finance, training, premises, business planning and social enterprise as well as relative legislation and regulations.

The new freephone number is 0800 083 0402.

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Scarborough, Borough Council’s economic development manager, David Kelly, said: “We are really pleased with the success of the project so far and want more people to benefit from the services of Yorkshire Coast Business Gateway by using the new helpline.”