Fifty reasons to be cheerful
By Brian Aitken, Editor of The Journal
THE last 12 months have not been an easy time for anyone.
Businesses in almost every sector – ourselves in the media included – have been hit hard by the recession and stories of job losses and factory closures have regrettably become commonplace.
However, we at The Journal believe that while reporting the facts of the downturn and how they affect the people of the North-East is important, we should also keep a balanced perspective by highlighting the many success stories the region has. Recent campaigns we have been running, including the Great North Revolution and the Go Global initiative, have aimed to champion the North-East’s achievements and help to map out what remains a very exciting future for the region.
The Fastest 50 is a vital and well-established part of this process.
For more than 10 years – together with the backing of Ward Hadaway – we have been celebrating and showcasing all that is best about the North-East economy.
Through good times and challenging times, the awards have shown how vibrant and versatile the region's businesses are and how they are making their mark, not just in the region and the UK, but across the world.
The lists in each year have contained reasons to be proud about the present and optimistic about the future, but perhaps this year's Fastest 50 deserve the most plaudits for prospering during such a difficult time.
Such companies are helping to drive the region forward – and making the kind of headlines which we all like to see.
