Northumberland Small Business Service

Rural Northumberland is home to some of the country’s most distinctive and valuable natural and cultural assets, including our pristine coastline; one of the UK’s largest farming sectors; our leading forestry industry; plentiful renewable energy resources and carbon capture capability; productive woodlands and waterways; precious nature habitats and biodiversity; and our unique Borderlands culture and heritage.

These assets offer huge potential to enhance the environment in Northumberland and to contribute to climate change goals, at the same time as boosting growth and prosperity in the local economy and communities by capitalising on these natural assets. 

We aim to support development and growth in rural communities by supporting them to explore new ways to develop, grow, and address issues around sustainability and resilience. 

The Rural Growth Programme will contribute towards improving the quality of life in rural areas recognising that being competitive in the production of food, having an attractive environment and creating job opportunities for local populations are mutually supportive aspects of rural life, requiring specific skills, appropriate technologies and services that need to be tackled as a coherent package and with tailored support measures. 

We will do this through support of  

• Stewardship: looking after and enhancing our precious natural assets in a way that provides environmental, social, and economic benefits. Our natural assets include land; natural landscapes; nature habitats and wildlife; trees and woodland; peatland, soils and bogs; inland and coastal waterways; inshore coastal waters and estuaries; and clean air 
• Rural growth: developing the rural economy, and growing businesses, jobs and wealth in a way that simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This means strengthening and growing rural businesses through the sustainable use of natural assets and low carbon approaches, creating new and better jobs, and providing skills opportunities that are accessible to people from all backgrounds and communities, and enhancing quality of life and wellbeing through engagement with the natural environment 

If you would like more information, or to discuss the support available please contact us ruralbusinessgrowthservice@northumberland.gov.uk.

For more information on support available to rural communities please visit Grants and Funding.

The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is a fully funded service that delivers a range of business support services to micro and small sized businesses across Northumberland. The service has a particular focus on supporting rural businesses to unlock the barriers to growth.


The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is a fully funded service that delivers a range of business support services to micro and small sized businesses across Northumberland. The service has a particular focus on supporting rural businesses to unlock the barriers to growth.

The Northumberland Small Business Service, which is funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Rural England Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority, is delivered by Advance Northumberland delivering on behalf of Northumberland County Council and runs from 2023 until 31 March 2026.
 
NSBS will deliver a range of direct local support services and investment to drive growth and resilience across rural businesses and communities within Northumberland. Alongside Enterprise and Start Up Support, Growth & Resilience Support and a Farming Advisory Service, the brand-new service will offer rural businesses the chance to apply for the NSBS Grant Investment fund to support business growth with capital grants of £10,000 up to a maximum of £300,000.   
 
The grant is available to all rural micro and small businesses/enterprises in Northumberland with turnover of less than £10m and less than 50 employees. The grants awarded will increase economic growth and business resilience through the creation of new jobs as well as safeguarding jobs across rural Northumberland.
 
The friendly, approachable, and dedicated team are on hand to bridge the economic gap for rural businesses and provide a one stop shop for businesses looking for support from the service or to help them understand about the wider support available across the North East area. The Northumberland Small Business Service is on hand to support your business growth no matter what stage your business is at. 
 
For more information or to register your interest please
email business@advancenorthumberland.co.uk 
or visit Northumberland Small Business service

If you are interested in attending an event to find out more about business support and investment, click here to book your free place.