We’re flagging up our stars of the future

Nov 27 2008 by Alastair Gilmour, The Journal

Meeting some of the young people nominated for a new guide to the North East’s future leaders has Alastair Gilmour glowing with pride and enthusiasm – and song.

CLIFF Richard had a point. His top-10 song and smash-hit movie introduced us to the Swinging Sixties and to The Young Ones.

Now, almost half a century later, his words “And young ones shouldn’t be afraid” are as relevant today to a region bursting with talent as when they were written in 1961, possibly even more so.

It’s one conclusion reached in the 68-page supplement published tomorrow with The Journal which reveals the Rising Stars and Future Leaders in the North East – and if there is any one attribute all of them share it’s that they are not afraid.

They’re not afraid to grasp opportunity, they’re not afraid to explore untapped sectors and they’re not afraid to embroider enthusiasm with a “can-do” attitude.

“We need to believe in people,” says James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce. “We must encourage them to dare to try and praise them for every success.”

The 122 spirited personalities, nominated exclusively by entrants in our highly-regarded publication, 500 of the Most Influential People in the North East, come from every sector and from every discipline.

Those eager to grasp the region’s reins over the next few years include designers, lawyers, accountants, dancers, regenerators and sportsmen and women. The public sector, charities and not-for-profit organisations are also well represented.

Some of them are in their first jobs, others have moved around carving out careers, and yet more have plumped for self-employment.

Margaret Fay, chairman of regional development agency One North East believes that many people are simply unaware that they have what it takes to be a successful leader. She says: “To equip our economy to compete in the global marketplace we need to change that – and with the right support and our growing entrepreneurial culture, we can.”

Every one of our Rising Stars and Future Leaders has a compelling story to tell and fortunately, there is no age-limit on future leadership. One of our cast was not so long ago well on his way to setting up a business as a 12-year-old and others are in their 40th year.

Admittedly, some may never fulfil their potential and this is why we need to boost young people’s ambition, belief and courage so that individuals understand they can improve and influence society.

It’s a view shared by Dr Tony Trapp, managing director of the IHC Engineering Business Ltd, who is also the David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation at Newcastle University Business School.

He said: “I congratulate The Journal on helping to identify and boost those individuals who can further invigorate and lead this region to greater success. We depend on those people to provide the energy, vision, determination and entrepreneurial flair to carry their organisations to success – to the benefit of us all.”

It would be impossible to expect to capture every individual who could make a leadership contribution to the North East and that’s the next part of our exercise.

We want to learn more, to find out who may have been overlooked, and uncover those who have emerged since we began our nomination procedure earlier this year. Even economic uncertainty can unearth potential and promote a lack of fear in people.

Journal editor Brian Aitken says: “Never has it been more important to celebrate the role of future leaders who will play such an important part in shaping the destiny of the region.”

Rising Stars and Future Leaders will also encourage other Young Ones and Not-So Young Ones to believe in themselves. As the song urges: “Why wait until tomorrow?”