FIVE entrepreneurs have been chosen to benefit from a UK Space Agency-backed programme to help their businesses tap into the billion pound space industry.

The innovators, who range from software developers to a camera designer, will receive mentorship from a panel of experts in areas such as law, financial management, business growth, marketing and IP protection.

Business Durham, the economic development company for County Durham working on behalf of Durham County Council, received a grant from the UK Space Agency earlier this year to set up the programme at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield.

The entrepreneurs will be entitled to up to £10,000-worth of professional services and will be based in an environment surrounded by some of the world’s most innovative companies. Four of the business owners met the panel for the first time at an event at Ward Hadaway on Newcastle’s Quayside.

The successful innovators include Anu Chandra, of Durham-based software company Ryelore; Ben Mawhinney, director of Drone Industries, known for its mapping technology; Lizzie Withington, chief executive of Newcastle-based software company Gospelware; Al Yong, managing director of Washington-based IT service provider Rymote; and Michael Potts, of Houghton-le-Spring camera developers, Chapter 6.

Ms Withington said they mainly used satellite applications with GPS technology.

"We love working on new and exciting technologies and we’re looking forward to working with the panel as we continue with ways to use satellite applications to grow our business," she said.

The panel working with the entrepreneurs comprises Ross Golightly, director at Sphera Consulting; Karen Large, of Think Innovative; Ian Swain, of IS Business & Finance; Graeme Jordan, of STO Consulting; Alex Shiel, partner and head of intellectual property and IT at Ward Hadaway; and Antony Hall, partner and head of commercial at Mincoffs Solicitors.

The support programme is being delivered in partnership with the UK Space Agency, which is planning for the UK to secure ten per cent of the anticipated £40bn global space market by 2030.

The programme builds on the significant impact the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence – one of only five in the country – based at NETPark, has already made.