Programme leads fight to keep talent in region

Oct 2 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

Mr Powell, who has already set up website www.besafetoday.co.uk, said that the course had given him the confidence to put his ideas into practice.

“The four-week course has been a breath of fresh air,” he said. “It reminded the whole group about the opportunities that exist here in the North East and that you don’t have to go to places like London to find work.

“For example, I didn’t know that the region was responsible for 30% of all programming done for video games in the UK. Once you realise such markets exist and you have the right contacts, it gives you more confidence in your ability to run a successful business.”

Mr Grey came to the North East from his home county of Oxfordshire 11 years ago for a top job at software giant Sage. He took voluntary redundancy earlier this year as part of sweeping cuts at the firm, which has seen it axe around 200 people since the start of the year.

He is now fronting new business Aln Side, named after the river Aln in Northumberland, which will provide outdoor networking and team building days for businesses in the North East.

With a background in orienteering and experience as a Royal Marine Officer, he is hoping to fuse his love of the outdoors with his business credentials.

He said: “I have worked in the North East for 11 years now and all I knew of the region’s business community was driving back and forth to Sage.

“The LEO programme has really opened my eyes to the opportunities that were available in this part of the world.”

Mrs Moran, who ran the course through her Newcastle-based recruitment company NRG, said: “The course has surpassed my expectations by far. We have some really talented people in the region and this course has ensured that some of them will now remain here.

“Each one of the 18 students have had a positive journey and I expect to be running another LEO course before Christmas as a result.”