Boost for businesses.

A CAMPAIGN to promote enterprise and new business start-ups in part of Northumberland has been boosted by the opening of two new learning centres.

The enterprise centres have been developed at Bedlingtonshire Community High School and Guide Post Middle School.

They are part of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) running in Wansbeck - a Government-backed scheme aimed tackling the district's poor record in new business development.

They have been developed by using funding from the LEGI scheme, and supported by Wansbeck Enterprise Education Network.

WEEN coordinator Sarah Legge, said the new centres were important in involving young people in the LEGI process.

"Having these facilities means that schools and the local community can access them for enterprise training, which we believe will have a big impact on raising aspirations, employability and social mobility.'' Kieran McGrane, principal at Bedlingtonshire High School, said he is delighted with the new centre.

"We have more than 1,000 students on site, and with three feeder middle schools a sizeable proportion of students in the local area will have the opportunity to develop skills needed in today's workplace.'' Any local groups interested in accessing the two centres can contact them on [phone] for the high school and [phone] for the middle school.

The LEGI initiative, which is run by Go Wansbeck, recently resulted in the district being judged the most enterprising place in the North East.

The pounds 16.5m of Government funding has led to companies relocating to Wansbeck.