Helping Hartlepool businesses to thrive

Published Wednesday, 1st June 2022

The first ever Hartlepool Business Week has been hailed a huge success.

Organised by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Economic Growth Team with a range of partners, the week ran from May 23rd-27th and comprised a series of events designed to raise awareness of the advice and support available to existing businesses, whilst also being a source of information for people looking to launch new start-ups.

Throughout the week, a total of 77 businesses got involved by attending events.

A variety of topics were covered, including finance, staff and recruitment, digital marketing, intellectual property, winning public sector contracts and international trade.

Councillor Mike Young, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Economic Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: “I am delighted with the success of Hartlepool Business Week and I would like to thank the Council’s Economic Growth Team for their hard work in making it possible. It is also important to recognise the role of our many partner organisations whose support was key to the week’s success.

“Hartlepool Business Week reflects the Council’s on-going commitment to support existing businesses and encourage the creation of new enterprises as a way of creating new jobs for residents and boosting the local economy.

“One of the highlights of the week for me personally was the visit to the Northern Studios in Lynn Street, the only large-scale television and film studio complex in the North-East which has been developed as a partnership between the Council, the Northern School of Art and the Tees Valley Combined Authority and The Office of the Tees Valley Mayor. Manager Nina Yoxall took us on a fantastic tour and I’m sure the state-of-the-art facilities will bring huge economic benefits to the town and its residents.”

Karl Brown, Operations Director of In Studio which is based in The BIS in Whitby Street, welcomed Hartlepool Business Week, saying: “As a Hartlepool-based digital business we discovered great opportunities and recruitment links with local colleges and universities within the Tees Valley. We found the sessions very informative and all of the organisations we spoke to offered great advice. We look forward to seeing more events of this kind at The BIS.”

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of the Council, added: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on businesses of all sizes, so the provision of good quality advice and support to try to help them weather the storm has never been so important.

“I’m delighted that Hartlepool Business Week proved to be such a success, and my congratulations go to all involved in organising it.”