Enterprise gap is closing

Jun 2 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

ENTREPRENEURIAL spirits are riding high in the North East.

Official figures show that the region is accelerating through the gears and closing the enterprise gap on London’s shining lights.

Local rising stars have hooked up with their multi-millionaire peers in a bid to keep up the pace.

And those taking part in the sixth annual conference of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum discovered that mistakes and mishaps are on the same path as that lucrative pot of gold.

The search is on to find Tees Valley’s next generation of enterprise stars with the If We Can, You Can challenge - with voting on two local finalists due to close on Sunday.

And as last year’s winner Matt Stirland has proved, the recession hasn’t put the brakes on entrepreneurial progress.

JEZ DAVISON reports.