10 Years of SME Centre of Excellence: The Story So Far

Our mission

SME Centre of Excellence exists to deliver practical, credible support that helps people start, survive and thrive.

That line matters to us because it is what we see every day. People starting with an idea and a lot of doubt. People surviving a tough quarter, a tough year, or a tough decision. People trying to grow without losing their heads or their weekends.

10 years in a few headline numbers

Over the last decade we've supported 17,000 businesses, connected SMEs to 300+ service providers, and helped businesses raise £150m+.

Those numbers are big, but they are not the point. The point is what sits underneath them: the late-night worry about cashflow, the confusion around compliance, the pressure of being the one who has to decide, and the reality that most business owners do not have a boardroom full of people to lean on.

Why SME Centre of Excellence exists

SME Centre of Excellence started with a simple frustration.

There is no shortage of advice for small businesses. There is a shortage of support that feels grounded, useful, and actually built around how SMEs operate.

We wanted to create something different. A place where business owners could get straight answers, practical tools, and support that moves them forward. Not a lecture. Not a generic checklist. Support that helps you make a decision and take the next step.

Over time, that became our way of working: applied workshops, honest conversations, and one-to-one support that focuses on what matters most in that moment.

The timeline: 10 years in eras

2016 to 2017: Getting the foundations right

The early years were about building something that could last.

We focused on the basics that make delivery possible: building a trusted network, shaping workshop formats that people actually want to attend, and strengthening relationships across the North East enterprise ecosystem.

Most importantly, we listened. We learned what business owners were really dealing with, and we built our approach around that reality.

2018 to 2019: Becoming a visible hub

As the organisation grew, our Ponteland base became a more visible part of the story.

It gave us a practical way to support SMEs through a mix of workspace, virtual office solutions, workshops, and one-to-one support. It also reinforced something that still matters today: support works best when it is flexible.

Some people need a desk and a quiet place to think. Some need a business address that makes them look credible. Some need a room full of peers. Some need a straight conversation and a plan.

2020: Showing up for SMEs in need

COVID changed everything for a lot of businesses.

During that period we helped launch Save Our SME, a support network created to help business owners navigate the crisis. It was practical and fast, because it had to be. People did not need polished messaging. They needed help.

That moment shaped us. It reminded us that the best support is calm, clear, and focused on action.

2021 to 2022: Helping businesses build momentum

As things stabilised, the focus shifted. Businesses were not just trying to stay open. They were trying to rebuild confidence, rebuild sales, and make sense of what growth should look like next.

This is where structured programmes mattered. Peer learning mattered. Investment readiness mattered. We delivered Grow2Succeed in January 2021, helping businesses identify pain points and connect to the right support through a diagnostic workshop and coaching. We partnered with the North East Growth Hub to deliver Peer Networks for SMEs in the Creative and Culture sector, giving people the space to learn with and from peers.

And we supported businesses through programmes that helped them sharpen execution, understand finance, and get clearer on what investors and funders actually look for.

2023: More delivery, more partnerships, more reach

By 2023, our work was increasingly shaped by partner-funded and commissioned delivery.

Enterprise Ignition, including an event in July 2023, supported entrepreneurs and founders through interactive sessions designed to help them define and ignite their business goals. Across the year, delivery continued through programmes including Northumberland Small Business Service, Digital City Accelerator, Durham City Incubator, Add-Venture Builder (internationalisation), Yohlar and others.

For us, this era was about consistency. Turning up. Delivering well. Making sure the support was not just available, but genuinely useful.

2024 to 2025: Recent Programmes, Real Delivery, Measurable Impact

If there is an era that shows what SME Centre of Excellence can do at scale, it is 2024 and 2025.

We strengthened partnerships across the region, including NECA, Durham County Council and NSBS, and continued building connections that open doors for SMEs.

NSBS: commissioned delivery, on the ground

The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is a local authority-backed enterprise support programme designed to help residents and SMEs across Northumberland start, develop and grow sustainable businesses.

The SME Centre of Excellence took the lead as the enterprise delivery partner for Northumberland. We design and deliver practical workshops and one-to-one support across the region. The work covers the real issues business owners face: getting the fundamentals right, improving marketing, building confidence with finance, shaping business models, and preparing for opportunities like tendering and procurement.

Durham tender readiness: helping SMEs win work

Alongside NSBS, we delivered tender readiness workshops in Durham during 2024, and that work continues through 2025 and into 2026. Tendering can feel like a closed world. Our job has been to make it clearer and more achievable, so SMEs can go after the right opportunities with confidence.

Looking forward while still doing the day-to-day

In 2025, future-focused work accelerated too, including the ISS initiative officially taking off within Airview Park. At the same time, the day-to-day delivery did not stop. Workshops. One-to-one support. Practical help across marketing, finance, start-up guidance, and adopting tools like AI to improve operations.

10 years in, and the mission has not changed

SMEs still need support that is credible, practical and timely.

We are proud of what has been built so far. And we are focused on what comes next.

We deliver the right support, at the right time to help organisations and individuals start, survive and thrive.

2026: The next chapter, built from everything we've learned

In 2026, we have just launched the SME Business Club.

This is a big focus for us because it fills a gap we see all the time. Lots of business owners can access a workshop or a short programme, but then they are back on their own when the next challenge hits. The Business Club gives SMEs a steady place to come back to for support, structure and momentum.

It is designed for business owners who want practical help without the cost or commitment of consultancy.

What members get:

• Annual Business MOT

• Monthly In-Person Business Club Sessions

• Quarterly Specialist Workshops

• Monthly Digital Masterclass with Ammar Mirza CBE

• Curated Access to Industry Experts

• Monthly "Know Your Business" Briefing

• IOEE Certified Training & Membership

• Preferential Member Rates

• Priority Access to the SME Buyers Club
  

How it helps: It reduces isolation, improves decision-making, and helps business owners stay consistent. Instead of reacting to problems, members build confidence, capability and a clearer plan for the year ahead.

It is the next step in our story. Taking what we have learned from 10 years of delivery and turning it into an always-on membership that helps SMEs stay steady, not just get started.