What a week we have had so far, the phone has been ringing off the hook as a result of the newly announced Back To Business Fund from Tees Valley Business. A pot totalling £930,000 has been set aside to support SME businesses across the region to support their fight back from lockdown and other contributing factors resulting from Covid-19.
there has been a clear sense that people are doing what we do best in Tees Valley: rolling up our sleeves and getting on with it.
With the fund only launching on Friday we have had well in excess of 200 enquiries from businesses and one thing is clear – the passion and determination to come back even stronger.
It has been a testing time for anyone in business in 2020. We’ve spoken to businesses from all backgrounds – from those that only just launched at the turn of the year to those established well over 50 years and counting and one thing is clear – we’re not resting on our laurels or crying about the situation, there has been a clear sense that people are doing what we do best in Tees Valley: rolling up our sleeves and getting on with it.
I have personally dealt with every phone call – as a business owner who has also suffered contract losses and issues throughout this period it was great to speak one on one with others in my position (and it was nice for me to brush up on my telephone skills too).
Ironically, due to the nature of our work over the years, we admittedly don’t have a big black book of local contacts as our work has often come along in weird and wonderful ways so I have really enjoyed dealing with local business men and women this week and I look forward to seeing where these new relationships go.
The good news has kept coming this week too with the announcements of the airport getting direct flights to Gatwick and further news on the direct train link to London. We know times are tough, but I think the business leaders in Tees Valley are tougher. Bring it on.
Update: It seems the fund has closed for now – we knew and had advised people it would be massively over subscribed! We’re looking forward to hearing the success stories from it.
