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BIC Start Up
Support to start your business
Got a burning desire to turn your hobby into a business? Tiring of night shift or the monotonous 9-5 routine?
Our free, fully funded business support could help you finally become your own boss.
We have over 27 years’ experience helping people like you become entrepreneurs, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands.
From registering a business to securing your first customers, BICStartUp advisers will guide you through the entire journey of starting and growing your business.
How can the BIC help?
Offering free, one to one support to help you launch your company. Over the years we’ve supported over 4,000 business, with 75% still trading after three years. No matter how far you are in your thinking, we can help.
Support to suit you
- Face to face meetings
- Video chat (e.g. Zoom)
- Workshops
- Resources and templates
- Ongoing phone and email support
Your questions answered
Fancy working for yourself but not sure what you want to do? We’ll help you to explore your options.
Have a brilliant idea but don’t know how to bring it to life? We’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to get started.
Speak to one of our advisers
Want to begin your journey into self-employment? Contact our advisers today to talk through your options.
Customer Stories
Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs have trusted the BIC to help them realise their potential since its founding in 1994, including…
The Bottle Swap
Pop's Candy & Flowers By Jennifer
Cherry Blossom Boutique
Albufeira Cafe
SafeNess Safety Support
Rainbows Sensory Space
Reinvented With Love
Wear Dogs
The Bottle Swap
Inspired by the traditional milk round, The Bottle Swap operates a refill delivery service providing plastic-free, eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products to customers across the North East.
Pop's Candy & Flowers By Jennifer
Husband and wife Frederick and Jennifer Dawson launched their business selling over 240 varieties of traditional sweets and an array of artfully-arranged bouquets after Jennifer was made redundant during the pandemic.
Cherry Blossom Boutique
Louise Black launched her own business doing what she loves, designing and making bespoke handmade gifts and keepsakes.
Albufeira Cafe
After 15 years of running restaurants for other people, Dadinha Carvalho is now doing it for herself after opening her own café in Newcastle.
SafeNess Safety Support
Paul Ness launched SafeNess Safety Support Ltd after identifying a gap in the market for the provision of professional face-fit testing to those working in high-hazard industries.
Rainbows Sensory Space
Fiona Pattison opened Rainbows Sensory Space providing a safe place for children, young people and adults with special needs to play, either alone, in groups, or with their families, in a controlled but fun environment.
Reinvented With Love
Ali Williams founded her upcycling business Reinvented with Love after a hobby with a friend turned into a full-time business.
Wear Dogs
Donna Surtees was inspired to take the lead and follow her dream of becoming a dog trainer, setting up Wear Dogs whilst in full-time employment.
Support is also available for...
Starting a Social Enterprise
Want to change the world as well as your employment status? If you have a business idea that could help improve society, then our tailored social enterprise support could help you become a social entrepreneur.
Sunderland West Area
Resident of West Sunderland? If so, our dedicated West Area start-up programme means you can receive one-to-one support from one of our expert business advisers at a time and place that works for you.
Get your business off to a flying start...
Free workshops with everything you need to know about starting a business.
*These workshops are available for anyone setting up a business in Tyne & Wear, Durham or Northumberland.
Funding and finance
One of the first challenges entrepreneurs often face when launching a business is raising money to get their concept off the ground.
You’ll be asking yourself…
- How much money will I need to start?
- Where can I find investment or get a loan for my business?
Your startup adviser can talk to you about the many sources of funding and finance to support your new business, including ….
Transmit Start Up Loans
The BIC is a an approved business partner of Transmit Start Ups to deliver loans up to £25,000.
Tide Bank Partnership
Get a sole trader or limited company bank account and we’ll put £50 in to the account to get you started.
“It’s daunting setting up a business and the BIC really gave me the confidence to make the leap. Although I’d had the idea for some time, you’re always asking yourself: ‘Why has nobody done this before? Why has it not been allowed? Is there actually a market for it?"
Rebecca Calvert Legal Services
Speak to one of our advisers
Want to begin your journey into self-employment? Contact one of our advisers today for an informal chat about your options.
We are a Delivery Partner within the ‘Enterprise Support in the North East 2’ project. This is a business start up project being delivered across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to assist potential entrepreneurs to become enterprise ready and ultimately self-employed. This is part funded by European Regional Development Fund.