NBSL

What NBSL does

NBSL (Northumberland Business Service Ltd) is a not-for-profit enterprise agency headquartered in Ashington, Northumberland, UK, incorporated in December 2000 and operating in its current form since 2007. The organisation manages and delivers publicly-funded business support programmes on behalf of UK government bodies (MHCLG/DLUHC, the North of Tyne Combined Authority, the North East LEP, Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council) and European structural funds (ERDF and ESF). It serves SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, and County Durham.

Its service portfolio is organised under three programme brands — Start with NBSL (business start-up support), Learn with NBSL (skills development) and Grow with NBSL (growth advisory and grants) — and includes grant funds (North East Business Support Fund, North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant, Covid Response Fund, North of Tyne Business Support Fund, Sunderland Business Support Fund), skills programmes (Better Business Skills, Better People Management), and advisory services (Enterprise Support North East, 1-2-1 Technical Specialist Support, New Enterprise Allowance until December 2021). Delivery is hybrid: face-to-face advisory combined with virtual workshops via video conferencing, supported by WordPress-based programme websites and an online application/grant management system.

NBSL does not charge end-user SMEs; its revenue is the management and administration component of publicly-funded contracts. Documented outcomes include over £14m in grants distributed, 12,000+ businesses supported, almost 2,000 new businesses started, 3,300+ new jobs created, an 85% one-year business survival rate, and 97%+ customer satisfaction across programmes. The organisation holds DBEIS Approved Enterprise Agency Status, ISO 9000 (UKAS), Customer First Accreditation, ESFA UK Register of Learning Providers listing, Matrix QM, Cyber Essentials, Ofsted Good rating, and Living Wage Employer accreditation, and is a member of the NEEAL consortium of North East enterprise agencies.

Name

NBSL

Legal name

Northumberland Business Service Ltd

Website

https://nbsl.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NBSL is a UK not-for-profit enterprise agency that manages and delivers publicly-funded business support programmes — including grants, advisory, and skills training — for SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, and County Durham.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Support Services (5619)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF)

Keywords

• Business support services
• Grant funding programmes
• SME advisory
• Enterprise development
• Skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government and European Funding: NBSL is a not-for-profit enterprise agency that manages, co-ordinates and delivers various UK and European funded programmes. Revenue comes from managing funded programmes on behalf of government bodies and European funds (ERDF, ESF). The organization does not charge end customers directly for services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NBSL (Northumberland Business Service Ltd) is a not-for-profit enterprise agency that manages, coordinates and delivers UK and European funded business support programmes across North East England. Its core offerings are grant funding programmes (covering up to 40-100% of project costs for SMEs), one-to-one business advisory and counselling, fully-funded skills workshops and masterclasses, and enterprise support for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses. Services are delivered free of charge to eligible end users via a hybrid face-to-face and online model.

Product overview

NBSL is a not-for-profit enterprise and business support organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include three main pathways: Start with NBSL (for aspiring entrepreneurs), Learn with NBSL (for skills development), and Grow with NBSL (for established businesses seeking grants and advisory support). These pathways encompass specific grant programmes such as the North of Tyne Business Support Fund, Sunderland Business Support Fund, and North East Business Support Fund, alongside skills programmes including Better Business Skills and Better People Management. The organisation also delivers specialist services like the New Enterprise Allowance, Enterprise Support North East, and 1-2-1 Technical Specialist Support. All programmes are delivered through a combination of online application systems, 1:1 advisor support, workshops, and grant management services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Start with NBSL: Business start-up support programme and portal (startwithnbsl.org.uk)
• Learn with NBSL
• Grow with NBSL

Products and services

• North of Tyne Business Support Fund
• Sunderland Business Support Fund
• North East Business Support Fund
• North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant
• Covid Response Fund
• Better People Management
• Better Business Skills
• Enterprise Support North East
• New Enterprise Allowance – Northumberland National programme delivered with DWP and European Social Fund to help benefit recipients start new businesses; referrals ended December 2021.
• 1-2-1 Technical Specialist Support Specialist advisory support covering business planning, sales and marketing plans, financial forecasting, business resilience planning, grant application support, HR support, and Covid response.
• Start with NBSL
• Learn with NBSL
• Grow with NBSL

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of people starting a business with NBSL support are still trading after one year
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NEEAL (North East Enterprise Agency Limited)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018NEEAL is a collaboration of all North East Enterprise Agencies formed in 2008. NBSL is a member and works as part of this partnership to ensure consistent delivery and compliance quality when regional coverage is required. NBSL specifically represents NEN and NEEAL as the agency for start-up services for Northumberland.
• Enterprise Support in the North East Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018NEEAL is lead applicant with NBSL as named Delivery Partner for the Northumberland area for the Enterprise Support in the North East programme. A partnership of nine locally-based Delivery Partners work within specific geographies across the North East LEP area.
• Innovation SuperNetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2018NBSL works in partnership with Innovation SuperNetwork to deliver the North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant programme supporting innovation projects for organisations in Northumberland, Newcastle or North Tyneside.
• North East Local Enterprise PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBSL delivered the Covid Response Fund on behalf of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NE LEP), adapting their existing North East Business Support Fund programme to provide quick-to-market pandemic response support.
• Advance Northumberland / Northumberland County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBSL manages the 1-2-1 Technical Specialist Support programme for Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council, providing specialist advice to eligible businesses identified through their Rural Business Growth Service.
• North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBSL delivers multiple programmes funded by NTCA including the North of Tyne Business Support Fund, Better Business Skills and To NetZero workshops, and the North of Tyne Innovation Recovery Grant. NTCA provides Devolved Adult Education Budget funding.
• British GasminorOthersEnergy supplier for NBSL offices. British Gas provides electricity (Zero Carbon as standard) and 100% renewable Gas through the NE BiC (North East Business Innovation Centre).
• NE BiC (North East Business Innovation Centre)minorOthersNBSL purchases energy and other services (mobile carrier, leased line connectivity) through NE BiC. Mobile carrier is carbon neutral certified; ITPS provides leased line connectivity working towards net-zero by 2035.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Business West: Regional enterprise agency in the South West of England providing business support, Chamber of Commerce services, and growth advisory. Closely comparable regional enterprise agency model to NBSL.

Emerging players

• The Prince's Trust: UK youth enterprise charity supporting 18-30 year-olds to start businesses through training, mentoring, and finance. Comparable service offering for a specific demographic with similar mission focus on entrepreneurship access.

Direct peers

• Start Up Loans: UK government-backed programme providing personal loans and mentoring to new business founders. Comparable as a publicly-funded delivery partner offering finance-plus-advisory support to UK start-ups.
• Enterprise Nation: UK-wide membership community supporting small businesses and start-ups with advice, events, and resources. Operates a similar mission of supporting SME and entrepreneur growth through advisory content and partner networks.
• Be the Business: UK business productivity charity supporting SME leadership and operational improvement. Comparable in mission (SME capability building) and in delivery through peer learning and structured programmes.

Others

• Business in the Community (BITC): UK responsible business network working with large employers and SMEs on ESG, community impact, and inclusive growth. Adjacent in mission (SME and community support) but focused on corporate responsibility rather than start-up advisory.
• Centre for Entrepreneurs: UK think tank focused on entrepreneurship policy and research. Thematically adjacent to NBSL's enterprise-support mission but operates as a research and advocacy body rather than direct programme delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Innovate UK: UK national innovation agency administering grant funding and R&D support to businesses. Comparable as a publicly-funded grant programme administrator operating at much larger national scale.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership organisation for small businesses offering advice, legal services, lobbying, and member benefits. Overlaps with NBSL on advisory support but operates at national scale and as a membership body.
• British Chambers of Commerce: UK-wide accreditation network of Chambers of Commerce providing business advice, international trade support, and policy advocacy. Overlaps with NBSL on SME advisory but at much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nbsl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NBSL