Bustling summit shows Tees Valley is growing

Businesses from across Tees Valley descended on Teesside University this week to share growth tactics and hear from their LEP.

The Business Summit, held at Teesside University, was attended by over 500 delegates and attracted some 75 exhibitors. Keynote sessions included:

• An Access to Business briefing featuring Andrew van der Lem, from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, who spoke on the Government’s new Business Bank

• ‘Tees Valley is Open for Business’, which was a panel debate demonstrating the Tees Valley as a valuable and vibrant area for business

• Steph McGovern, one of the BBC’s leading economic commentators, who gave her take on Tees Valley’s economic outlook

The Summit showcased Tees Valley’s commercial expertise, knowhow and skills available in a wide range of sectors. It also provided extensive networking opportunities as well as workshops and one-to-one advice meetings to help delegates expand their commercial knowledge.

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of TVU, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, said: “Having so many delegates and exhibitors under one roof was an effective and efficient way of raising awareness about the area’s business potential, of highlighting what help and support are available and of bringing suppliers and customers face to face.

“Hosting a forum to enable entrepreneurs and business leaders to share knowledge and ideas is among a variety of mechanisms that Tees Valley Unlimited is employing to drive economic success in the region.

“We have a dedicated team to help businesses and it’s fortunate that we have this resource. A lot of our help will be to introduce businesses to other agencies - and that demonstrates that we work well in partnership.”

Andrew van der Lem, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “I was here to listen to businesses rather than to talk to them and send messages.

“We’re working on setting up the business bank. We’re a few months from its soft launch and we really want to make sure that it meets the needs of the local economy here and in other parts of the country as well.”

Steph McGovern said: “It was great to be back on ‘home’ territory and to play a part in such a vibrant, well-attended event.

“There was a real buzz throughout - in the exhibitors’ hall, at the keynote sessions and advice seminars with the whole Summit clearly demonstrating that Tees Valley is well and truly ’Open for Business.”

Check Bdaily today for a report on the ‘Tees Valley is Open for Business’ panel debate.