Support Available

If you’re thinking about relocating your business to County Durham, or establishing a base here, Business Durham offers an extensive package of support to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible. This support is tailored to the needs of each business and available to all types of company, regardless of size and sector. 

Our support package includes:

Property solutions

Our team at Business Durham can help you find the perfect premises, whether that’s incubator space, state-of-the art-labs, large-scale manufacturing space or Grade A offices. Services include:

  • Searchable commercial property database
  • Practical support including property viewings
  • Free or discounted desk space for up to 12 months 

Research and market intelligence

We can provide expert knowledge, bespoke research and local intelligence to demonstrate why County Durham is the ideal location for your business. This service is provided on a free, confidential basis and includes:

  • Local industry and sector profiling
  • Demographic and labour market analysis
  • Access to first-class research expertise, tailored to your business

Recruitment & skills support

Our bespoke, free, confidential recruitment support is designed to ensure your company is able to attract the best talent once you’ve established a presence in County Durham. This support may include:

  • Working with key partners to build bespoke recruitment and training packages
  • Advising on relevant apprenticeship and customised training programmes
  • Recommending various training services and funding streams
  • Introducing businesses to university contacts to support graduate recruitment
  • Providing salary benchmarking to support a business case for relocation

Relocation assistance

This includes:  

  • Organising familiarisation visits and tours of the area
  • Working with your business to support employees who are moving to the region
  • Providing practical information about living in the region including profiles on neighbourhoods, schools, nurseries and the local housing market
  • Help to access linguistic and cultural support for international staff

Guidance on funding and grants

We can help your company to identify grants and other funding options to assist your relocation and future growth. This may include angel investment, accelerator programmes, enterprise zones, knowledge transfer partnerships and tax relief.

Local connections

Business Durham can introduce businesses to local and regional networking groups, suppliers, education establishments and associations that offer sector-specific events. We can also help to raise your company’s profile in the region by: 

  • Advising on PR and social media activity plans to support your arrival in County Durham
  • Issuing press releases to local media and suggesting relevant local contacts to invite to launch events
  • Making introductions to key regional media channels and marketing agencies

Aftercare support

Once you’ve established your base in County Durham, a dedicated aftercare account manager from Business Durham will be on hand to provide ongoing support including: 

  • Help to access training and recruitment opportunities 
  • Help with financial incentives
  • Assistance with property issues
  • Introductions to local companies, regional universities and national catapults
  • Invites to local networking events 

Meet the Team

The Business Durham team is here to support companies locating in County Durham, and to create an environment which enables businesses to grow and thrive.

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Resources

Brochures, sector factsheets and videos.

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