Business Organisations

Business Clubs North East

This is a membership organisation for the region's many Business Clubs. Membership of BCNE gives constituent business clubs the advantage of being able to offer a wider range of services to their members than they could possibly do if they operated totally independently. BCNE currently has eight Business Clubs in membership representing over 800 businesses. Each club remains totally autonomous but the strength in numbers has huge benefits not least, of which is effective lobbying and representation at local, regional and national level. Each club offers its business membership a range of services including networking opportunities, business advice and access to a wide range of events.

CBI North East

The CBI is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated by Royal Charter in 1965. The CBI consults and supports its members through a regional organisation. Each of these 13 regions has a regional council elected from the members and is supported by CBI staff located locally. There are also 16 standing committees of the CBI charged with supporting specific areas of policy or members. Through this regional and standing committee structure the CBI is able to consult its members and involve them in policy formulation. The CBI offers members a broad range of products and services, free of charge or at a discounted rate, designed to benefit business including business guides, e-mail updates, policy reports and up to ten free practical business guides each year providing expert advice from top professionals in their field.

Federation of Small Business

The Federation of Small Business has just under 4,000 members in the North East of England based as far North as the Scottish borders and as far South as the edges of the Tees Valley. Aside from members being able to access member benefits through discounted services and products, the FSB is very much active behind the scenes campaigning at every opportunity for a better and fairer deal for small businesses who contribute so much to the North East economy.

North East Chamber of Commerce

The North East Chamber of Commerce is a cutting edge independent membership organisation representing the interests of over 5,000 North East businesses on a regional, national and international level. It provides a comprehensive range of business services, products and expert training to help businesses realise their potential. It increases members' business prospects, helps to reduce their costs, and protect their business.

North East Association of Business Development Agencies

The North East Association of Business Development Agencies (NEABDA), represents the region's many business development and enterprise agencies. The agencies provide specialist expert advice on business start up and business growth providing one-to-one support as well as specific business training. The agencies work with a wide range of regional partners to deliver their service. NEABDA helps to co-ordinate the work of the business and enterprise agencies as well as co-ordinating communication across all partners.