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A reminder to members that IoD NE has its own meeting and conferencing facilities available on Tyneside Gateshead College has opened its doors to IoD members and their guests who can take advantage of free meeting rooms and facilities at the brand new College Baltic Campus based in Quarryfield Road, Gateshead near the banks of the River Tyne.
IoD members who wish to use the facilities should telephone Shaun or Lesley at Gateshead College on 0191 – 4902207
Full address:
Gateshead CollegeBaltic CampusQuarryfield RoadBaltic Business QuarterGateshead NE8 3BE
Baltic Campus In a prime location on Gateshead Quays, Baltic Campus is home to 7,000 students and provides an unrivalled learning environment. Four floors of high spec facilities include;
Open a newspaper or listen to the news and it seemsgloom and doom is all around us at the moment.
Of course there are challenges, but there are reasons to be positive too. So, just to restore the balance as we embark on a new year, here are my 10 reasons for business to be positive in the North-East right now.
1. Interest rates remain at 0.5%. When Industry needs to invest to stay competitive, this makes a big difference (thanks Sir Mervyn King). 2. Carbon price floor plans watered down – still not enough, but £250million extra support announced by the Chancellor a few weeks ago isn’t to be sniffed at and will benefit energy-intensive manufacturing in our region.3. Regional Growth Fund – the north-east has done well from RGF with £93million awarded in RGF 2 alone, well ahead of our share of the UK population.4. More support coming for businesses taking on apprentices. From 2012/13 SMEs can get £1500 for each apprentice they take on, supporting development of the skilled workforce we need for our region.5. Inflation is coming down, however slowly. CPI is now down to 4.8% and looks like trending lower at last.6. Economic growth in the north-east continues – 2010 GVA was up 3.8% on 2009, ahead of the national average of 3.2%7. North-east exports grew by 5.7% in Q3 2011 compared to Q2 at a time when exports from the UK as a whole fell by 1.7% - a great testament to our region’s exporters.8. Newcastle selected as one of eight “core cities” which will receive greater powers in the 2012 budget to focus spending more on local priorities, rather than artificial targets set by some Whitehall civil servant.9. Steel-making due to start on Teesside again in early 2012 following SSI’s purchase of the former Corus blast furnace at Redcar, a welcome return to Teesside’s industrial roots and a considerable source of exports and jobs.10. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are up and running now across the region, with early encouraging signs that they will have the business leadership and determination needed to support business development, and with it economic growth and jobs, in the north-east.
And that’s even before we consider the north-east dominance of the X Factor final - between South Shields and Middlesbrough we supplied half the finalists! I’m not saying that business is a bed of roses at the moment, that’s unrealistic of course. But the North-East is a great place to live and work and our industries, unfashionable for too long, are just what the country needs if we’re to get the UK back on the economic straight and narrow.
The business community in the north-east is great at pulling together and working hard for the region – somewhere we all feel very passionate about. With those qualities firmly in place, I’m convinced we can really build on the successes of the last year and make 2012 even better.
The IoD shares your commitment to the region. If there is anything you feel we can be doing to help and support you or your business, do get in touch – all the contact details are (insert where theyare please Sukie).
In the meantime, my best wishes to you and your business for a successful and prosperous 2012.
Alastair Thomson
Chairman IoD North East
As a member you are automatically assigned a branch and encouraged to give your views on local issues and take advantage of networking opportunities in your area. All members are welcome to attend events at any branch.
Sukie Rankin Secretary