18 November 08
New £125m fund to help business gains outline support
Bold plans to pursue the creation of a new £125m fund to help hundreds of smaller North East businesses have been backed by One North East.

24 October 08
Keeping enterprise in the family
A £1m investment is to support new parents and carers in North East England to start their own businesses for more flexibility in family life.

13 October 08
Euro funding boosts North East business support
Business & Enterprise North East, which delivers the region’s Business Link service, is aiming to create hundreds of additional new businesses thanks to a £9m investment from the European Regional Development Fund 2007-13.

1 October 08
EU recognition for North east regional image campaign
NORTH East England’s highly successful regional image campaign is at the forefront of the biggest annual event on EU regional policy, held in Brussels from 6-9 October 2008.

9 July 08
European funding to support £30m manufacturing and productivity drive 
The first investment from the ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-13 for North East England is set to help deliver a groundbreaking manufacturing support service to increase business productivity, boost start up and survival rates and improve environmental performance.

14 February 08
EU Commissioner backs new regional funding programme
EUROPEAN Union Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner delivered a message of support to North East England today, kickstarting an economic development fund which is bringing £255m to the region.

17 December 07
Euro cash boost to the region
The North East economy has moved a step closer to benefiting from a £255m cash injection, with the European Commission approving the region’s programme for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) up to 2013.

10 October 07
New team to boost region's influence in Brussels
The drive to maximise the benefits of doing business in Europe was given a boost last night, with the official launch of new services and premises for the North East England Office (NEEO) in Brussels.

08 October 07
North East science strength shown in Brussels
EU decision makers will learn how the appliance of science is changing the North East for the better at a prestigious event in Brussels this week (8-11 October).

Notes for editors:

The ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-13 for North East England is managed by One North East on behalf of the European Commission, national government and regional partners.  It is focusing on:

• Innovation – promoting science technology and innovation in businesses and institutions across the region.
• Enterprise and business support – encouraging more people to start up in business, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, and helping established businesses develop, grow and innovate.

More than £250m ERDF investment is available for the region from 2007-13.  ERDF investment is limited to 50% of total eligible cost and must be matched by other public and private sources.  For every pound of ERDF investment, regional partners lever in another pound for the key priorities of innovation, enterprise and business support.

The programme is underpinned by the three important cross cutting themes of environmental sustainability, equality of opportunity and sustainable communities.