Another flock of fledgling businesses have taken off in north Norfolk.

Fakenham & Wells Times: North Norfolk new business awards 2015. Businesses who have been helped by the Enterprise North Norfolk scheme mark their success at the Rocket House, Cromer.North Norfolk new business awards 2015. Businesses who have been helped by the Enterprise North Norfolk scheme mark their success at the Rocket House, Cromer. (Image: Archant)

A dozen fresh ventures are the latest in 145 new start ups given a helping hand to hatch by a support scheme over the past 2½ years.

They ranged from a tea specialist, candle maker and dental educator to gardening, bookkeeping and bed and breakfast.

Enterprise North Norfolk courses and support are run by Kate Wilde from Engage with Business.

She said workshops, courses and support helped people start up in business and then build on their beginnings.

Key issues at start-up included finding funding and customers. Support afterwards included 'steering and developing business skills including social media.'

North Norfolk District Council invests £60,000 a year in the scheme and has set up a £135,000 Business Enterprise and Start- Up (BEST) grants pot providing up to £2,500 to new ventures, and firms with less than 10 people. So far it has given 42 grants totalling £78,000.

Council leader Tom FitzPatrick said they were happy to back a successful support scheme in an area where 90pc of the business were small.

'If we can encourage more of them and get each one to take on staff it will help the economy.

'And if we can promote better-paid jobs it narrows the gap between local wages and housing prices.'

The latest batch of new ventures were heralded at a gathering in the Rocket House cafe at Cromer, where they were presented with business car holders.

Upcoming Enterprise North Norfolk courses, which are free, include a introduction to self employment in Fakenham during August and a three-day workshop at North Walsham in September.

For more information about courses visit www.enterprisenn.co.uk.

Learn more about BEST grants at www.northnorfolk.org