North in position to lead new revolution

Sep 8 2009 by Sarah Green, The Journal

ON Thursday more than 400 of the region's business leaders met at the Hilton Gateshead for CBI North East's Annual Dinner which was sponsored by Northumbria University and One North East.

The event was themed on the Great North Revolution campaign which looks at maximising the opportunities for North East businesses of new emerging sectors which can transform our region including electric vehicles, energy, digital, new materials and healthcare and life sciences.

Within the speeches there was a clear acknowledgement of the significant challenge of leading businesses in the current climate, the overriding sentiment from the room was the great opportunity that lies ahead of us.

The opportunity that we can pioneer again and be at the forefront of a new industrial revolution. And this is being recognised outside of our region. As Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI stated in his address: “Not many parts of the UK can match this cascade of new technology innovations and all this energy.”

In the foyer of the Hilton, this innovation was evidenced with a model from Nissan of a city serviced by electric vehicles, a dress and wallpaper made from printable electronics and medical support devices designed by Northumbria University.

The reception was sponsored by Future Transport Systems and TNEI, entrepreneurial businesses that are successfully growing outside of our region based on the opportunities presented by the new energy and low carbon transport markets that are developing as a response to the climate change agenda. As Richard Lambert said: “In the end, what’s going to pull the UK out of recession and plant it firmly back on the pathway to recovery and rising employment?

“Not the Government, which is going to have to brace itself for a much tighter environment for public spending.

“Not even consumers, who are likely to be building up their savings and taking a more cautious approach to spending in the next year or two.

“No, it’s going to be business, and business investment, which gets things moving again. And that in turn will depend on a restoration of the kind of confidence that encourages firms to take risks, to hustle for fresh opportunities and to break into new markets.”

This being the case I believe last week’s dinner demonstrated how well the North East is positioned as we move into a new economic cycle.

I would like to thank our sponsors, One North East and Northumbria University and all of our members who made this event a sell-out success and whom I know are equally working very hard to ensure the North East is positioned for success.

Sarah Green is regional director of CBI North East