From our headquarters at One Trinity Green, South Shields we deliver programmes right across the North East of England.

Meet Team TEDCO! You’ll find they each have their own business experience; they’ve learned what works (and what doesn’t!) and that knowledge is shared most generously with those who want to start or grow their business. All of us have an understanding of the challenges that face new businesses. We’ll listen to you and support you through the next steps towards your business start-up, or help you to grow a sustainable business.

Meet The Team

James Craft MBA

James Craft MBA

Chief Executive

James has a spectacular ability to absorb business knowledge. He knows how to use it to not only launch successful businesses, but to scale them too.

He manages a team of advisors and develops opportunities.

Jeff Thompson

Jeff Thompson

Business Advisor

Jeff knows that listening carefully to you is the best way to help you move forward. A former business owner and part of a team who completed a Management Buy Out, he’s familiar with challenge, failure and achievement. A superb sounding board.
Hayley Campbell

Hayley Campbell

Business Advisor

Hayley co-owns her business with her husband and has been self-employed with multiple businesses since 2015.

With a background in retail, sales, manufacturing and training, Hayley draws on all of these to help others, guiding them away from common mistakes in setting up a business.

Judith Wheatley

Judith Wheatley

Contracts & Performance Manager

As Contracts and Performance Manager, Judith’s focus is on the successful delivery of all our business support programmes.

From client experience to happy advisors, Jude thrives on developing people and ideas.

Mark Johnston MBA

Mark Johnston MBA

Business Advisor

With a banking background, and experience of running his own business too, Mark helps businesses prosper from start-up through to maturity. He’s patient and has a warm sense of humour which keeps things real for entrepreneurs.
Bill Hartshorne

Bill Hartshorne

Business Advisor

A former bank manager, Bill is renowned for caring about the businesses he works with and isn’t shy of telling it like it is.

Much respected by his clients, he brings experience, honesty and fun to his role.

Allison Nicks

Allison Nicks

Business Advisor

Allison owned her own company which gives her a good insight for clients today.

Her varied career includes retail, banking and training which means she can be hands-on teaching would-be, and established, business owners.

Alan Dodsworth

Alan Dodsworth

Business Advisor

Alan is a multi channel commercial operator with 20+ years senior leadership experience growing turnover and profitability. Specialising in business expansion, acquisitions, brand repositioning, and new product launches
Heather Howat

Heather Howat

Senior Business Support Co-ordinator

Heather is quite simply the hub of TEDCO! She’s at the heart of all our regional programmes and ensures our clients, funders, partners and advisors have the support they need.

She has a background in Urban Regeneration, Healthcare and Construction and gets a real buzz out of helping people and hearing their wonderful ideas.

Janice Ross MBE

Janice Ross MBE

Marketing Manager

Janice’s special skill is reflecting people’s talents back at them; building confidence and gently encouraging folk to take their next step in life. She weaves that ethos into our business start-up and growth campaigns to engage all.
Claire Garner

Claire Garner

Claims and Finance Manager

Claire manages our claims and finance function and ensures the smooth running of all the programmes and operations whilst keeping a very close eye on the purse strings.
Colin Lynch

Colin Lynch

Business Advisor

With over 20 years’ experience in business finance—including commercial banking, start-up support and training— Colin brings a caring, upbeat approach to helping others take the leap into self-employment.

He believes business should be fun and fulfilling—and says there’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone turn a big idea into reality.

TEDCO is a member of Start & Grow UK (formerly Cavendish Consortium) – a group of six of England’s largest and most successful enterprise agencies, together with the National Enterprise Network. Each member organisation represents the very finest the business support community has to offer, with a reputation for working closely with organisations from all manner of industries and sectors to achieve excellent results in business enterprise.We’re here to help entrepreneurs build successful and sustainable businesses.