North East Chamber launches Future Leaders’ Forum to develop young business talent

Up and coming young business people and those working in the charity sector in the North East are going to be supported to “fulfil their potential” with a new Future Leaders’ Forum.

Organised by North East England Chamber of Commerce and its Partner member Gateshead College, the members come from all sectors and parts of the region including law, the culture sector, bioscience and architecture.

Rhiannon Bearne, Chamber director of policy and representation, commented: “The ability of our region to grow and really exploit economic opportunities depends on us developing our future leaders.

“The Forum is going to help achieve two things. Firstly, it will offer members the opportunity to network outside their own organisation and encourage learning from other industries and sectors. Secondly, it will add to the Chamber’s growing equalities work.

“We know the inclusion of diverse views makes for better businesses. Young people, early in their careers, are a really powerful part of this conversation. We are excited to hear what they’ve got to say on the world of work and the role they, as future leaders, can play in shaping it.”

Ivan Jepson, director of business development and innovation at Gateshead College, added: “Our ethos is about delivering education with an employment edge.

“This forum provides a great opportunity to drive conversations which will help us to do just that. Collaborating with industry partners is a key element of providing education and training opportunities that enable our young talent, our industries and our region to flourish.”

Some of the views from the Future Leaders Forum included the need to promote more business role models, especially female leaders in diverse industries, offer life-long advice and guidance for all stages of careers and promote apprenticeships, especially amongst girls, and from a young age.

The group also talked about the importance of genuinely flexible working and better promotion of the variety of job opportunities available in the region so that the North East could be everyone’s first choice to build a great career.