Saturday, 18 May 2013

Help for Small Business in Darlington


Darlington Councils, Business Engagement Team
The Business Engagement Team works with other business support agencies and directly with local businesses to help promote and support a thriving economy in Darlington. Highlighting the town as a great business location.
The council’s engagement team offers a wide range of business services with the principal aims to create and safeguard jobs in Darlington. Achieving this by stimulating business opportunities,  attracting new investment from outside Darlington and by offering encouragement and support to new businesses and existing businesses wishing to expand. The team acts as a focal point for businesses looking to communicate with the Council, providing named points of contact to assist the smooth transition of business enquiries.

Darlington town centre and market

Business Support & Advice in Darlington
Darlington has a dedicated team of business advisers on hand to offer support and advice to established businesses or individuals considering a move in to self employment. This is achieved by providing 1 to 1 sessions; mentoring and follow up support. The business support team can provide advice on a range of subjects including developing a fledgling business idea; business planning, ICT,  marketing,  expansion of existing businesses,  trading with the public sector, moving business location, identifying local sources of training, recruitment needs and sources of finance. The council’s advisors can also direct enquiries to other agencies that may be able to assist with elements such as improving productivity, new product development, energy efficiency and reducing a business’ carbon footprint.

Networking & Keeping Businesses Up to Date in Darlington
The council’s Business Engagement Team works closely with other organisations to support businesses within Darlington, encouraging collaboration through the promotion of inter-trading events, hosted company visits and various seminar programes. Networking opportunities offer local businesses the opportunity to share best practice and to enhance their knowledge of general business issues. You will probably meet fellow businesses who can help with accounts, website design, marketing and promotion, lots of  like minded business people.

Darlington Markets Free Market Stall for Business Promotion
Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Morrisons all started out as market stalls and are now hugely successful businesses. Markets are therefore a fantastic testing ground for a budding entrepreneur with a bright idea and a limited budget. Not everyone want to grow to become a multi-million pound industry, but market stalls can make great contributors to the local economy and central to the vitality of Darlington town centre and regeneration of the wider area.
These markets offer local Darlington business start-ups the opportunity (as a one off) to have a stall on a Monday and Saturday, completely FREE of charge, to help promote and showcase your business, with the potential to reach out to a new customer base.
A fully weather proof gazebo can be provided, together with tables and lighting/power if required. Businesses can book an available stall and stock up with an attractive display. You may not want to sell anything but just use a market stall as an advertising medium where you can hand out literature, leaflets or business cards. Once you’ve had a taste of trading at Darlington Markets for FREE, you can sign up for a series of non contractual stall hires for just £20 a day on a Monday and Saturday. Established businesses are also entitled to this excellent opportunity. View this as an inexpensive way to reach new customers. Why not use the stall to advertise your business, get your company noticed.

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