Business Secretary: 'North East businesses need to talk more about their strengths'

Regional business leaders have suggested the North East needs to play to its strengths to succeed post-Brexit, a view shared by Business Secretary, Greg Clark.

Speaking at Prosperity North East - held at Teesside University on September 20 - the Business Secretary responded to the outcome of a series of sector-specific workshops focused on opportunities after Brexit.

The conference brought together business owners and professionals from across the region to debate mitigating Brexit challenges and make the most of the opportunity of being outside of the EU, specifically in sectors like clean energy and bioscience.

The Business Secretary told delegates that these sectors are key strengths of the North East and agreed with the discussions at the conference that highlighted the need to maximise on these sectors in markets across the UK and around the world.

Backed by Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen - and organised in partnership between the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Teesside University and Prosperity UK - the conference featured a number of significant speakers, including Paul Drechsler CBE, Vice-President of the CBI and Chancellor of Teesside University.

Also supported by commercial law firm, Square One Law, the conference was part of a programme of events run across Britain by Prosperity UK.

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “I’d like to congratulate Prosperity UK for arranging this conference to focus on something absolutely central to every single one of us - the future of this great region which we all want to see thrive.

“At Chequers, we agreed a set of proposals that would keep business thriving and hiring across the North East. And looking beyond March next year we also need to support those growing businesses who will drive prosperity in the next 10, 20 and 30 years.

“Through our modern Industrial Strategy, we are helping businesses in the North East and across the country create well paid, skilled jobs all over the country.”