The man who helped town back on its feet
Nov 15 2007 by Graeme King, The Journal
ONE of the leading lights in the regeneration of Derwentside over the last 25 years has stepped down as chief executive of the area’s development agency.
Eddie Hutchinson has led DIDA, the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency, for more than 19 years and, before that, was seconded to the agency by British Steel.
Mr Hutchinson, 63, arrived in Consett when the town was on its knees after suffering thousands of job losses following the closure of the Consett steelworks.
He has led infrastructure investment, and helped to coordinate various agencies and private sector investors to transform the Derwentside economy, winning the MBE for services to the business community in 1995. Even after leaving his post at DIDA, he will maintain links with the agency as an adviser.
Many of Derwentside’s current business success stories began as venture capital- backed start-up ventures assisted by DIDA, including companies such as Derwent Valley Foods, CAV Aerospace and International Cuisine.
In recent times, Mr Hutchinson has led DIDA’s development of the £1.3m Consett Innovation Centre, opened in November 2005 and designed to establish the area as a centre for high technology businesses.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Hutchinson was modest about his contribution to the regeneration effort, stressing he was one part of a team of partners including DIDA, Derwentside District Council, British Steel and government departments like the DTI. He said: “I’m immensely proud to have been part of what has taken place in Derwentside.There is no doubt it has been transformed in terms of industry and business.
“Employment is a million miles away from the low levels it had reached in the early 80s. The area now has a strong industrial and business base, and is an attractive area for new technology businesses to locate – and for people to come and live. We’ve had people come here from Ravenscraig in Scotland, and from as far afield as the Czech Republic, to see how Derwentside has got itself out of the mire.”
DIDA chairman Owen McFarlane, chief executive of CAV Aerospace, which currently employs more than 300 people in Consett, said: “Eddie has done an outstanding job and guided the agency through many changes over the years. There are many businesses and individuals that owe him a debt of gratitude for his involvement, support and contribution to their success.”
DIDA director John Pearson, director of development and asset management for Derwent- side District Council, said: “I don’t think anyone should under estimate the contribution Eddie has made – both in commitment and expertise.”
