TEDCO Business Support is celebrating national recognition after being named Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year (Under £750,000 turnover) at the prestigious National Enterprise Network Conference and Awards 2026.
Held on 26 March 2026 in London at Canary Wharf, the annual awards ceremony brought together leading organisations, policymakers and innovators from across the UK to recognise excellence in supporting small businesses and developing entrepreneurs.
The award recognises organisations demonstrating exceptional delivery of enterprise support, measurable impact on business growth and a commitment to both innovation and community impact.
This achievement highlights how TEDCO – headquartered in South Shields – has excelled in helping individuals and early-stage organisations to start, grow and succeed in business. In addition, the award reflects TEDCO’s long-standing contribution to strengthening the local economy.
Speaking on the award win, TEDCO Chief Executive, James Craft, said,
“We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It is a testament to the passion, expertise and dedication of our team that we have been recognised with this award. But, of course, it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible drive and ambition of people in the North East who choose to pursue their aspirations to build and grow companies.
“We should be incredibly proud of those individuals who take the leap into self-employment or even explore the skills needed to become a business owner.”
In the official statement from the judging panel, TEDCO Business Support was praised for “its inclusive and community-focused approach to supporting entrepreneurs across North East England.”
The panel went on to say:
“Their work reaches groups traditionally underrepresented in entrepreneurship, with strong engagement for women, ethnic minority founders and disabled or neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Through accessible delivery, innovative initiatives such as the No Barriers to Business campaign, and powerful client success stories, TEDCO demonstrates how a small organisation can create significant economic and social impact.”
TEDCO’s win reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality, tailored business support programmes that make a genuine difference in the North East. With contracts across Durham, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, TEDCO has supported more than 2,000 individuals in the last two years who have explored the possibility of becoming self-employed or starting a business.
For more information about the Start up South Tyneside scheme that Tedco deliver, alongside other business support available in South Tyneside see: Business Support – Invest South Tyneside
