Minister to give keynote speech at Fastest 50
Oct 3 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal
THE man who champions the North-East in Government will be the guest of honour at the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 awards ceremony next week.
Minister for the North-East Nick Brown MP will give the keynote speech at the event at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead on Friday, October 12.
Mr Brown has been an MP for Newcastle East since 1983 and has previously served as Government chief whip, minister for agriculture and as minister of work.He was awarded the freedom of the city of Newcastle in 2001.
In July of this year, Mr Brown was appointed as minister for the North-East with a brief to speak up for the region and examine ways to improve its prosperity.
He has earmarked improvements in the North-East’s transport links, on road, rail, air and sea, as priorities for boosting the regional economy.
Mr Brown also backed the region’s bid to house the Energy Technologies Institute.
Speaking about his appearance at the Fastest 50 award ceremony, Mr Brown said: “I am delighted to be joining Ward Hadaway in celebrating the success of the 50 fastest growing companies in the North-East of England.
“Our region’s economy is making the transition from heavy industry to a service-based economy.
“The drive to increase the prosperity of the region is private sector-led, with the companies whose success we are acknowledging leading the way.
“This event is a great showcase for dynamic modern enterprise in the North-East.”
Mr Brown will join representatives of the region’s fastest growing companies and key members of the North-East business community at the Baltic next Friday to see awards given to the fastest growing small, medium and large companies in the region.
An overall award will also be handed to the North-East’s fastest growing business of the year.
The Fastest 50 rewards privately-owned companies and organisations which have shown the strongest sales growth over the last two years and have generated profits for the same period.
It is sponsored by leading North law firm Ward Hadaway and has become recognised as a key barometer of the region’s economy since the event was launched in 1998.
Colin Hewitt, head of commercial law at Ward Hadaway, said: “We are delighted that the Minister has accepted our invitation to be the keynote speaker at this year’s Fastest 50 awards.
“It is an occasion which celebrates all that is best in North-East business and I have no doubt that Mr Brown will be impressed by the achievements of all of those in this year’s list.”
