Gateshead Council launches new local business networking scheme

A new High Street Traders Support Programme will aim to help local traders respond to the medium-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The initiative will establish business-led trader collectives to embed within key shopping areas in the borough. The hope is that the collectives will represent and promote their local centres, offer peer-to-peer support, and create an open dialogue about the issues local businesses are currently facing.

The programme will be fulfilled through a partnership with Bsupplied, a specialist business consultancy firm. Bsupplied will handle the primary engagement with businesses in addition to the delivery of virtual workshops in the New Year. The workshops provide local traders an opportunity to discuss business challenges and seek useful information and guidance from peers.

The High Street Traders Support Programme is funded by the Welcome Back Fund from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.