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.
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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