EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, 28th January 2026

Start Strong: Start-up and Finance Essentials – Darlington
Thinking about starting a business, or sitting on an idea you’re ready to turn into something real?

Event details
Start Strong: Start-up and Finance Essentials is a practical, full-day workshop designed to give you the confidence, clarity and know-how to take your next step into self-employment or business ownership.

Whether you’re at the idea stage, preparing to launch, or have just started trading, this interactive session focuses on the essentials you really need – without jargon or overwhelm.

You’ll gain clear, straightforward guidance on:

How to set up and structure your business
Creating a practical, workable business plan
Legal requirements, licences and key logistics
Pricing confidently and understanding your value
Simple, accessible financial forecasting
Funding options available to you, including loans, grants and investment routes
The workshop is hands-on, with tools, templates and examples you can use straight away. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions and get expert insight tailored to the challenges faced by new and early-stage founders.

By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a stronger understanding of what it really takes to start a business and the confidence to move forward with purpose.

This session is part of the Tees Valley Business Masterclass Series, delivered by Darlington Borough Council on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

✅ Fully funded for eligible Tees Valley based participants

📅 Date: 28 January 2026 | ⏰ Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm | 📍 Location: Business Central, 2 Union Square, Darlington, DL1 1GL | 👥 Facilitator: Enterprise Made Simple (EMS)