There can be few roles more challenging than being the owner or manager of a small business. In days gone by, simply being good at what you do would have been enough to ensure your company would flourish.

But in today's business landscape, making the best widgets is no longer a guarantee of success.

If you run a small business today, it's safe to say that you will face a whole host of challenges, many of which will often fall outside your traditional area of expertise.

You sometimes feel you have to have a jack-of-all-trades mentality. Whether it be dealing with legal requirements, addressing finance issues, handling staffing problems, or simply looking for the next route to grow the business, many owners often struggle to know where to turn to for advice.

In addition, many people feel that they could expand their business but just don't know where to start - problems such as these are worrying for small businesses and could stunt the growth of a company.

Providing and managing your finances are the obvious ways in which your bank can help your business, but at Yorkshire Bank, it doesn't stop there.

Our whole approach to business banking is built around the principle of relationships, and as well as looking after your company's financial needs at a local level, we want to support you in growing your business.

For many of our customers, our Financial Solutions Centres are their hub for business advice. We have a range of experts on hand to offer support on a wide variety of business issues.

Another important aspect of our approach is our ability to provide networking opportunities for our clients through our regular events programme.

The Tees Valley Financial Solutions Centre has also forged partnerships with a range of other organisations in order to support our customers throughout every stage of their growth.

Too many companies struggle with problems that affect their business simply because they do not realise that professional advice is readily available.

* To speak to someone at Yorkshire Bank's Tees Valley Financial Solutions Centre, call 01642-628-600.