TALK Newsletter - December 25

Get Business Ready In Gateshead With Enterprising North

Enterprising North is bringing free, accessible business support directly into Gateshead’s communities, making it easier for local residents to get guidance close to home. Our Engagement Coordinator, Sam Clark, will be hosting relaxed drop-in sessions, where people can chat about business ideas, side hustles or developing existing ventures.

Chopwell

Where: The Bank, NE17 7HU

When: 05/12/25

Winlaton

Where: Winlaton Community Centre, NE21 6BY

When: 04/12/25

Winlaton Mill

Where: The Land of Oak and Iron Centre, NE21 6RU

When: 10/12/25

Get in touch with Sam: sam.clark@youarefirst.co.uk

Accelerate Fund: New Opportunity for Early-Stage North East Businesses

The Accelerate Fund, part of the new North East Fund, offers early-stage businesses access to small loans designed to help them start, test or grow their ideas.

It’s aimed at founders who need flexible finance to move their business forward - whether that’s developing a product, launching to market, or funding early growth activity.

Learn more here.

The Fully Funded Creative Marketing Toolkit Workshop

This fully funded workshop, hosted by PNE, introduces the basics of marketing for creatives. Across the session, you’ll learn how to define your brand, identify and understand your audience, develop clear and consistent messages, use beginner-friendly digital tools, and apply simple, low-cost tactics to promote your work. The workshop forms part of The Sustainable Creative programme, supported by Creative Central NCL, the North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council.

Date: 4th December from 10am to 12pm GMT
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Venue: 65 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1

Learn more

AI Growth Zone

The UK government has announced the creation of an AI Growth Zone in the North East, positioning the region as a central hub for the country’s AI strategy. The initiative is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs and attract up to £30 billion in private investment, driving innovation, boosting the local economy, and cementing the North East’s role in shaping the future of technology. Read more here

Upcoming Events

Click on any event to learn more and get tickets!

• Free Burnout Busting Masterclass for Business Owners & Senior Leaders

• Midnight Lunar Market - Holiday Edition

• The Rebellious Business Networking Event

• Chamber Christmas Exchange

• Tyneside Networking December

• Newcastle City Ladies Networking December Meeting

• Builders of Business: Teesside Community Open Day

• Kraken Networking

• The Boardroom Event

• Morning Networking at St James Park

• Chamber Christmas Exchange

• Network Stockton December meeting

• The Sisterhood for Success: Growth & Impact Events

• Christmas Social 2025

• Powwow Christmas Networking

• "Fore" Business Golf and Networking

• Winter FinTech Social

• Slice & Social: Social Impact

• Mingle All The Way - Business Networking and Christmas Party

• Connecting for Christmas

• Partner & Corporate Member Business Breakfast

• Durham Business Networking Mornings

• Start Up & Sole Trader Social

• The Bigg Marketing Event

• Foundation of Light Business Breakfast - Technology for Business Growth

FIRST in November

Celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week - North East Style

This month, people around the world are marking Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) - but at FIRST, supporting entrepreneurs and aspiring founders is something we do every single week of the year.

Our belief is simple: everyone deserves the chance to explore enterprise, build confidence, gain practical skills and take steps towards decent work, further education or starting a business. GEW simply shines a light on how important that mission is.

⭐ How the North East Is Doing

According to the latest NatWest Regional Growth Tracker, the North East entered the final quarter of 2025 on a positive note, recording a Business Activity Index of 52.3.
This signals growing optimism and increased activity across the region - creating a supportive environment for people looking to start or develop a business.

⭐ What FIRST Has Been Part of During GEW

We’ve been out across the region this week, connecting with communities and celebrating enterprise through:

• The Newcastle Business Support Showcase

• North Tyneside Enterprise Day at Working Well

• PNE’s Slice & Social, highlighting brilliant female founders

• The Sunderland Jobs Fair, supporting people exploring new opportunities

Each event has been a chance to celebrate local talent, strengthen partnerships and bring enterprise conversations right into the heart of the North East.

⭐ Every Week Is Global Entrepreneurship at FIRST

Our work doesn’t begin or end with this week. All year round, we continue to champion underrepresented groups, build confidence, develop commercial skills and help people discover what they’re passionate about so they can move forward.

Starting Again With Strength: Olha’s Story

“The course helped me come back to life. This system of support renewed my confidence, and helped me grow, understand and feel I belong here.”

When Olha arrived in the UK from Ukraine in the summer of 2022, the only English she spoke was ‘Hello, my name is Olha’, yet she faced the daunting challenge of starting over in a new country with three children.  

Sponsored to settle in England, she quickly realised that rebuilding her life would require courage, resilience and support networks. On her journey to build her life in the North East of England, she found FIRST’s enterprise skills learning qualification became a cornerstone of her journey not just to self-employment, but integration.

Read the rest of Olha’s story here.

Laptop donation helps FIRST bridge digital divide

Thanks to a generous donation of refurbished laptops from Lenovo and Big Issue Invest, FIRST is ready to help bridge the digital divide and support learners from under-resourced backgrounds. Read the full article here.

Celebrating Our Latest Achievements

This month, we were proud to receive our Matrix accreditation, recognising the high-quality information, advice and guidance we provide to learners. We also received our Enterprise Educators UK plaques, a wonderful acknowledgement of our ongoing commitment to enterprise education and the work we do across the region.

Have Your Say For a Chance To Win a £50 Voucher!

We’d love to hear from you about your experiences of enterprise in the North East. Your feedback will help us better understand the real barriers and opportunities for new founders across our region - and shape the support available in the future.

Take a few minutes to complete our short survey using the link below, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher. Click the link here to fill in the survey.

The winner will be chosen at random at the end of March.

FIRST Festive Coffee Morning

Join us for coffee, mince pies and festive feel-good networking!

Did you know that over 70% of people say networking feels daunting?

We’re here to change that.

Our Christmas Coffee Morning is all about keeping things relaxed, welcoming and completely informal. Just grab a cuppa, enjoy some festive treats and chat with others who are exploring new ideas, opportunities across the North East.

You’ll also get a free info pack filled with local events, support options and pathways you can tap into in the New Year. No ticket needed just come along, get cosy and see what’s possible.