Entrepreneurs looking to start up a business in the north-east of England should benefit from a new service that aims to install an entrepreneurial culture in the region.

The ‘If we can, you can' campaign is being driven by the Entrepreneurs Forum and funded by the regional development agency One NorthEast.

It has been backed by Paul Walker, chief executive of FTSE 100 company The Sage Group; Lorna Moran, chief executive of Northern Recruitment Group; and Paul Callaghan, founder of Domain.names.com and chairman of RTC North.

"This campaign will become an integral resource for the North East business community," said Walker. "If we are to collectively address the region's business deficit it is so important that we continue to foster entrepreneurship through encouraging people to start, develop and grow businesses."

Total enterprising activity in the north-east is currently estimated at 4.6% of the adult population, well down on the UK average of 6.3%.