New Beginnings was a charity that gave ICT and web design training to disabled and unemployed volunteers looking to get into the workplace.

They became New Beginnings Digital Media – a social enterprise company that provides ICT and web design services for professional clients, while still training disabled and unemployed adults.

Soon after starting out, the company landed a contract to work with God TV, which broadcasts to 250 countries, as well as working with local businesses and several local government organisations.

Gateshead International Business Centre is one of Gateshead Council's flagship buildings. It supports over 100 jobs in activities such as film production, telecommunications, voice over IP technology, architectural 3D visualisations and modelling.

New Beginnings Digital Media recently took on office space in the centre, which provides new and young creative businesses with state of the art connectivity in a supportive environment that includes receptionist services, telephone and internet connection. Since then the company has taken on a number of new clients.

It is also about to launch a product called Sitebuilder for small businesses or individuals that will allow them to build and update their own website, saving on the full cost of a commercial web design service.



Director John Malley, 37, went to the charity for extra training after being made redundant from his IT job, and quickly became involved in setting up the new company.

John said: “It’s really important that people can get experience that gets them back into work. After I was made redundant, I came to brush up on my skills and it took off from there.

“Gateshead Council’s Economic Development service has been great and we are still working really closely with the team there.

“They helped get us into the business centre and to write a business plan to ensure we would be self sustaining. Now we have lots of clients and are really branching out.”

Deputy leader of Gateshead Council, and cabinet member for Employment and Economy, Cllr Ian Mearns said, "Gateshead Council has a long and very successful history of running business centres to support new and young businesses.

"For Gateshead to continue to evolve, we need to develop job opportunities, employment, economy and creative industries. New Beginnings is not only a business that is set to grow and improve the economy, it also has a social function because it helps people get back into work.”

To find out more about New Beginnings, visit www.nbdm.co.uk or call 0845 458 4737.

Gateshead Council’s Economic Development service provides free, fast advice and information covering a range of business issues to new and existing businesses and social enterprises. For more information or to find out about the council’s business centres call (0191) 477 3747 or email economicdevelopment@Gateshead.gov.uk.