Making the connections

04/01/2010

Anna Smith established The Industrial Estate Network for the town’s Riverside Park estate after realising she knew little about the businesses that operate there.

The 23-year-old’s web-based resource - www.riversidepark middlesbrough.co.uk - allows companies to connect with each other, view local news and events and advertise job vacancies.

A straightforward business listing is free, while there is a charge for a premium listing.

Ms Smith is aiming to generate first year revenues of £40,000 and eventually franchise the model in other parts of the UK.

The Middlesbrough-born entrepreneur said the venture would help to generate more cross-networking between business clusters.

“Tees Valley suppliers have gone to Newcastle for work because they didn’t realise the business was on their own doorstep,” she said.

“They are missing out on vital work because they don’t know it’s there.”

Ms Smith, who hopes to retire to Spain by the time she is 30, completed an apprenticeship in business administration before taking up an admin role at Middlesbrough creative agency, Calm Asylum.

She was promoted to client relations manager but left the company - which has fallen into liquidation - earlier this year.

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