SEVEN businesses have pledged their support to entrepreneurs in the North-East by becoming corporate partners of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

The new partners are: Port of Tyne; Northumbrian Water; GrowthFunders, the North East’s only equity crowdfunding platform; Utilitywise, one of the UK’s leading business energy and water consultancies; Newcastle United Football Club; The Lakes Distillery, and Hedley McEwan, a Newcastle-based creative communications company.

By becoming corporate partners, the businesses are committed to supporting the Forum’s members and other entrepreneurial businesses to gain the support necessary to grow and to create jobs. Currently, the Forum’s membership number in excess of 300 entrepreneurs from the North East business community.

The seven new businesses join a growing number of corporate partners, including PwC, Teesside University, Brewin Dolphin, Ward Hadaway, Gateshead College, Onyx Group and Yorkshire Bank.

Nicola Short, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum said: “The involvement of our 14 corporate partners forms a major part of the support our members receive through the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. Between them, these organisations offer a massive wealth of experience and expertise from which our members can benefit through valuable engagement opportunities.”