Teesdale continues to beat the North East's regional average for small business creation.

Last year the The Enterprise Agency worked with 37 start-ups, providing access to funding and business support services including IT, Marketing, Enterprise Essentials Workshops Training, Business Planning and Strategy Development. This year it is set to beat its own records with a staggering 56 start-up businesses created.

The tranquil rolling countryside belies the diversity of new products and services being created every day in Teesdale.

Cotherstone, Bowes, Evenwood, Gainford the success stories are everywhere.

David and Joan Crook established Cats Cabs, a Barnard Castle based Taxi firm has grown the business within just nine months. Having twice been supported by the Teesdale Enterprise Fund for job creation, Cats Cabs has taken premises in Galgate, are running four cars and continue to expand services to private customers and commercial contracts.

David said, "I couldn't have done this alone. Sue Smith my Start-up Adviser has been brilliant. I knew there was a gap in the market in Barnard Castle. Through the Agency and the fund I have been able to prove it. I love running my own company, it just keeps getting better."

Adrienne Howard's Bowes based, International Translation Service also received start-up support and advice. Adrienne is now working with businesses in the UK and abroad, specialising French and Spanish to English translation in business, social science and IT sectors. To support Adrienne's remote working, facilitated through the internet, IT support was allocated to fund a consultant to design and set up a client database. Adrienne says it was a, "Very positive experience and an impressive level of service. It was also useful to have help working through the business plan. The process clarified my ideas and thoughts. Just having someone to chew things over with makes such a difference".

The hands-on IT support was provided by Barry Dobson of Elevation IT, another local business start-up business supported by the Enterprise Fund and delivering services through the Enterprise Agency. Further UK Trade support has financed Adrienne's market research in France.

Anne Allen has established Bowman Solutions an art development and marketing consultancy working with tourism organisations, museums and galleries. Though primarily North-East based, Anne's freelance work for clients including the Friends of the Bowes, Teesdale Marketing and Newcastle University take her as far afield as Norway and Japan.

Anne said, "There was a straight-forward application process for funding. I was delighted when I was awarded the grant and wouldn't have started without it. It enabled me to make that leap into the unknown".

And the list goes on. Nick Booth now has a specialist shop, From Little Acorns, based in Galgate selling high quality clothing for 0-5 year olds. Iris Hillary's, Ajalon Associates delivers quality management consultancy. Janet Taylor's Mill Tea Room in Cotherstone, specialises in home baking and local produce and caters for both local and visiting trade. These businesses have all been supported financially or through specialist advice by the The Enterprise Agency

Shaun Stuart, The Enterprise Agency's Chief Executive feels passionately that, "We should celebrate the strengths in our area. I never cease to be amazed by the people of Teesdale. Their levels of creativity, tenacity and entrepreneurship shine through in these figures and success stories. It makes my job delivering the Agency's services extremely enjoyable".