MIDDLESBROUGH Council’s business support team is interested in helping to develop and improve commercial business premises in the town.

Cash, or other forms of support, may be available to successful schemes.

The council is keen to hear from developers or landlords with commercial property interests in Middlesbrough who have innovative proposals to develop or improve their business premises to meet current or future needs.

Council support is subject to an assessment of proposals submitted. For successful schemes the council could offer one or more of three options:

• Provide formal technical advice and support to the project.
• Become involved in the funding, delivery or management of the project.
• Support the project through a formal endorsement of the business to other agencies such as ONE North East.

All ideas or proposals need to be submitted using one of the council’s Project Initiation & Planning (PIP) forms, which will be assessed to ensure feasibility of the scheme and whether they are in line with existing council strategies and priorities such as the Urban Regeneration Strategy and the Regeneration Development Plan.

This is first stage of the process and is used to assess and prioritise all proposals. Those that pass then have a detailed business case developed before final approval.

Councillor Rooney, executive member for regeneration and economic development said: “In the current economic climate it is essential that the council continues to work with the private and voluntary sectors across Middlesbrough to bring forward schemes that bolster and sustain economic confidence.

“A key element is to ensure that new business workspace is developed and existing space is upgraded. That will provide a sufficient supply of high-quality business accommodation that meets the needs of business across Middlesbrough.

“Our assistance packages cater for existing business needs as well as those of future entrepreneurs that will be generated by all the various activity currently taking place to support people into enterprise related activity.”

Businesses interested in the premises support scheme should contact the business support team about their proposal on 01642 729007 or email businesssupport@middlesbrough.gov.uk

For further guidance about how the scheme works call Abrar Hussain in the business support team on 01642 729232.