Sarah Slaven – managing director of Business Durham , the business support service for Durham County Council .
development opportunities , including commercialisation of innovation from our universities and businesses , and will cement NETPark ’ s reputation as one of the UK ’ s leading science , engineering and technology parks .
As well as this investment in NETPark , development continues at Station Place , Milburngate and Aykley Heads , creating exciting new business and industrial space to enable businesses to grow and thrive in the county .
Throughout the year we have continued to experience strong interest in our programmes designed to support the business community which demonstrates a confidence , and a determination to grow .
To support business growth and expansion , our Finance Durham Fund offers flexible debt and equity finance .
The fund has invested in a wide range of projects , including , in the last year , boutique hotel Project Indigo , project management software company , Project Control Tools and Industry leading threat intelligence company , Intelligence Fusion . The County Durham Growth Fund celebrated its second anniversary , having awarded £ 5.4m in grants to 21 companies and helping to create over 500 jobs in its first two years .
The capital grant scheme , which provides grants to small and medium enterprises in County Durham to enable their expansion , also levered a further £ 8.66m in private sector investment .
The importance of innovation has been highlighted during the pandemic more than ever .
Through our innovation and enterprise programmes we have worked with businesses that are willing to innovate and business owners and leaders with ideas and ambition .
Durham Future Innovation Building Programme , Durham Ambitious Business Start-ups and Durham City Incubator programmes continue to help innovative and enterprising individuals and companies to establish and develop their business in County Durham .
Our team have welcomed new tenants to the portfolio of business property we manage , helping to find the right space for businesses to grow from commercial office space , modern laboratories , to industrial property units .
At our newest industrial development , Jade Business Park , we welcomed ; architectural glass and aluminium specialists ARGLA , innovative solar film manufacturer , Power Roll and modular housebuilder , CoreHaus . Looking ahead to 2022 there are plenty of opportunities on the horizon for businesses , particularly in emerging sectors such as the green economy , the space sector and through increasing digitalisation .
However , there are also lots of challenges currently facing businesses as the global economy recovers from the pandemic .
In working with businesses across the county , we see at first-hand how they have coped , with many adapting and as a result thriving through the most challenging economic conditions in living memory .
That determination to succeed against unprecedented challenges puts many of the county ’ s businesses on a firm footing as they look to grow and prosper .
At Business Durham we continue to review and adapt the support we offer businesses in County Durham to help meet these challenges and take forward opportunities .
To find out what support is available visit businessdurham . co . uk . Sarah Slaven Managing director , Business Durham
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