The Catalyst 2 project ran from January 2007 to March 2008, and helped over 660 businesses in the North East of England.

Managed by e-business champion, The North East Regional Portal (TNERP), and supported by regional development agency One NorthEast, Catalyst 2 offered a range of practical support packages and funding to help firms improve their performance by encouraging and expanding their use of IT and the internet.

Eligible SMEs across the region could access up to 50% funded support to help them adopt IT and internet solutions for a maximum of £2,000, and a series of events also took place.

The project’s longer term aim was to ensure that North East businesses are in a position to successfully take advantage of regional, national and international markets and boost their productivity.

In total the scheme assisted over 660 businesses across the region and provided funding to over 130. It also approved over 80 regional suppliers to provide the funded work to the eligible businesses.

Norma Foster, Chief Executive of the Regional Portal, said: “The Catalyst scheme was exceptionally popular and attracted great interest throughout the North east of England business community.

“It built upon the success of the Catalyst Pilot project, which assisted over 440 businesses across the region, successfully part-funded over 80 businesses in actually adopting IT, and approved over 40 regional suppliers.”

A report for the Catalyst2 project will be available soon. Download the Catalyst Pilot report here.

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