Starting your own business - A dream or a nightmare? David Irwin of Project North East highlights the issues you need to address and the support you might need. It just might be the best decision you ever made.

So you've tucked away plenty of turkey, mince pies and a few drinks for Xmas. Now in those delirious states of fulfilment did you think about that absolutely corking idea so you can run your own little business. Wondering if it would work, thinking about money, an office, a super-fast computer, a big leather chair, personal assistants? Or would you just like some simple practical help talked about in laymen's terms? You will also probably want to know about people who have made the step into self-employment and achieved measurable success. It might not be a nightmare that will scar you for the rest of your working life!

The region's development agencies now recognise that support for the micro business, employing one up to five people, will be the corner stone of the new economy in the 21st century. Many of the newest micro business especially ones focused on emerging information technology see simple practical support is what they need. Graham Love of Mere Mortals, a Games and TV graphics company based in Project North East's new Pink Lane development in Newcastle, talked about the essentials. "Cheap but good workspace, one monthly payment and easy in and out, that's vital as it reduces stress levels. My partner had a business which he closed a while back but was tied into a three year rental agreement, it was a nightmare. Now with this office we have no hassle and no hidden costs."

Graham highlighted that the location in Grainger Town also enabled the company to receive extra grants. So getting in the right type of office set up is vital. "Other advantages of being here with other micro businesses is working together on bigger projects. With the TV graphics we get work from Oddfish, Imagine and Enigma all are in the same block. I think the business bods call it the clustering effect." This new business is not unique in any way more and more are emerging rapidly filling the 'cheap - hassle free' workspace almost as quickly as it becomes available.

Workspace and location, right you've ticked that box but of course you need to take into account plenty of other things. You may have already got a business plan of sorts, even if its on the back of a napkin if it stands up to some experienced scrutiny then it may be enough. Though bank managers will want it bound they still don't want a twenty page document. It is the quality of the business idea that matters not how clever you are in disguising a bad one. Look around and talk to similar businesses, ones that you have had contact with. Find out who they went to for advice and what support was the most beneficial. If, like many of the new businesses, you are focusing on new technology, see that you have reliable, quick and cheap Internet access. The amount of work and transactions you can now make via the Internet is phenomenal and exploding in growth. Get some straightforward basic advice from business support agencies such as Business Link and Project North East. Both offer assistance in grants, training, exporting, workspace, marketing, etc. Also if you are 18 - 29 Project North East run the Northern Youth Venture Fund and the Newcastle Youth Enterprise Centre, both providing assistance in starting your own business.

There is support there and on the whole it is practical. People wishing to start up have moaned about 'jumping through hoops' to get start up grants particularly from Business Links. New businesses like Oddfish films and Enigma Interactive saw the need for 'immediate help in finance' and 'flexible approach….practical, realistic advice and someone to stick with you.' The issue of going through hoops seems to be a common theme particularly for micro businesses. But I feel we have recognised this at Project North East and make it fairly easy to get the help new business needs without making life any more difficult than it already needs to be.

When Richard Armitage decided to set up his company 'Rename' providing an Internet service in Newcastle with key personnel also in Switzerland and the United States he of course wanted fast, reliable and cheap Internet access. In what he now terms "Silicon Alley" part of the Pink Lane development offers free Internet access 24hours a day. "Its just ideal for my company; having not just a city centre location but excellent up-to-date communications. It means I can run the business more efficiently. Richard Clark from Project North East calls it 'Big Netty', well, all I can say it's certainly a big help to me, it's a simple tangible benefit."

If we can give more tangible benefits we will grow and help start new businesses. We realise that business support agencies need to do more.
The North East in particular needs to nurture far more of the enterprising talent young or old to catch up with the rest of the UK. We have great output from universities and it is a pretty good place to live so there should be a growing demand for people wanting to set up a new business. Changing from a business culture where much of the workforce where employed by big industry and large conglomerates to one of fending for yourself in an enterprise culture is a huge step. The North East is having to go through some of the biggest changes in its modern industrial history. Those changes are going to be made predominantly by the micro business sector. It's happening in London and around Europe with startling pace so if you have 'a corking idea' why not be a part of change in the North East?

If you want further information on starting or developing a business then contact Project North East on 261 7856 or email info@projectne.co.uk or visit the web site: www.pne.org