No turning back the clock

May 9 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

Pole position

THE Polish effect is touching businesses across the region and offering opportunities to those seeking to export or invest overseas.

The biggest of the 10 states that joined the EU in 2004, Poland is the eighth largest market in Europe. Many of the migrant workers that arrived after EU accession may now be returning home, but this "dynamic, agile labour force" has made a huge difference to the North East economy, according to regional TUC secretary Kevin Rowan.

He said: "The North East population was getting older and getting smaller. There has been an estimated population growth of around 30,000 between 2003 and 2006. This is almost certainly due to migration into the region.

"The workers are relatively young, mostly under 34 and three-quarters are under 40. They are exactly the kind of people we need to attract to grow our economy. They have plugged the labour gaps for employers right across the region."

Poland is also an important export market for UK businesses, according to British Polish Chamber of Commerce chairman David Thomas.

"There is a tremendous amount of disposable income in Poland. People travel - they are sophisticated consumers and they like British brands," he said.

"The EU is investing 93bn euros (£73.3bn) in Poland. That is a huge market for British businesses."

Links between the region and Poland will be further boosted over the next 12 months when Durham University opens a centre for Anglo-Polish business studies, which will exchange staff between Britain and Poland.

Mr Rowan added: "The North East today has got stronger ties with Poland than it has ever had."