Business Durham
Business Durham is the business support service of Durham County Council, helping to deliver more and better jobs, and a strong competitive economy.
It is a knowledgeable and trusted guide, which connects businesses with the right funding, advice, and networks they need to grow and thrive.
Business Durham works closely with partners to encourage an enterprise culture, helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas into successful reality and students to develop enterprise skills to become our future business leaders.
The organisation manages a portfolio of business property and excels in finding the right space for businesses to grow – commercial office space, modern laboratories and industrial property units.
Business Durham attracts capital and inward investment to the county, and develops an innovative economy that enables companies to grow and flourish.
Business Durham builds long-term relationships to foster sustainable growth in businesses, raising economic aspirations and making Durham a place where business is done.
Services We Offer
- Finance and Investment
- Business Engagement
- Starting, Growing and Relocating your Business
- Driving Innovation
- Property, Strategic Sites and Land
Support Offered
County Durham businesses can access:
- Grants, Loans & Equity
- Business Support
- Digital Support
- Innovation
- Sector Support
- Skills, Recruitment and Training
- Business Start-Up
- Employee Welfare
Our finance network
We have strong links with banks and financial intermediaries, and we’ve supported several companies to access venture capital and government grants, such as NBSL and Finance for Business North East.
The North East Growth Hub has a searchable database with over 70 funds.
Innovate UK and Horizon 2020 are specific funding sources for innovation and R&D. There are often initiatives to support specific sectors, such as automotive, offshore, space, nuclear, and the process industry.
Finance advice for business
Advice on R&D Tax Credits, other tax reliefs and best practice accountancy advice is also available.
Whether it’s innovation grants, debt, equity or asset-backed finance, we can help you find it.