‘ We ’ re in this together ’ - businesses united by major online event
Online event brings hundreds of businesses to the table
S
howcase North East , which took place last month for the benefit of the region ’ s businesses , saw 600 attendees , 800 online conversations and over 100 exhibitors publicising and exploring opportunities .
The enormous online event was designed to bring together big public and private concerns with the region ’ s SMEs to look at ways of bringing companies together and finding as many ways as possible in which they could do business .
The event came to fruition after a partnership between Supply Chain North East , a £ 6.7m programme that sees four key partners joining forces to work with over 800 businesses between 2018-2021 supporting businesses to identify opportunities in new and existing markets . It is delivered by RTC North and Innovate UK EDGE and is a key part of the Innovate UK agency ’ s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth .
The day ’ s ambitious agenda was packed with an impressive line-up of speakers from Atom Bank to Equinor , from RWE to HS2 and the Department for International Trade , and from Leonardo to the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy .
The event began with a welcome from Paul Scully MP , Minister for Small Business Consumers and Labour Markets , and Dr Martin McGurk from Innovate UK .
A more regional slant was offered by Colin Bell , business growth director at the North
SHOWCASE NORTH-EAST
East Local Enterprise Partnership , who spoke about how supply chains are crucial to the North-East and how the LEP is supporting businesses .
An integral part of the North East Strategic Economic Plan , that has a vision to create 100,000 more and better jobs between 2014 and 2024 , is Supply Chain North East - a £ 6.7m programme which is being delivered across the region by RTC North , Generator , North East Automotive Alliance ( NEAA ) and North East Process Industry Cluster ( NEPIC ).
Those four key strategic regional partners joined forces to work with over 800 businesses between 2018-2021 seeking to identify opportunities in new and existing markets .
Managing director of RTC North , Jamie Ollivere , said : “ From digital transformation and AI to electric vehicles , wind energy and decarbonisation , there are some exciting opportunities out there for small companies to win new business and be at the forefront of innovation .
“ The interaction around the event shows there is a great willingness to put last year behind us , collaborate and move forward .”
Alan Whittaker , programme manager of Supply Chain North East , added : “ The purpose of the event was to showcase supply chain and innovation opportunities and best practice .
“ Additionally , it offered organisations which attended the opportunity to access the
sector sessions , and network and showcase their own products and / or services via a virtual exhibition stand
“ The great line-up of speakers raised awareness for business across the North-East and Tees Valley LEP regions interested in being involved in supply chains for major UK infrastructure projects .
“ Companies were also offered the opportunity to exhibit their products and services through setting up their own virtual exhibition stands .”
Businesses across the Wear region that are looking to diversify and enter new markets or strengthen their foothold in the current market are being invited to get in touch with the Supply Chain North East team to see what help they might be able to get .
The most effective way is to go to https :// supplychainnortheast . co . uk / eoi-form and register an interest .
Supply Chain North East is a multimillion programme aimed at revolutionising the way SMEs diversify their offering and embrace new markets .
The programme has received more than £ 3m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund , which is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 .
For more information on Supply Chain North East visit supplychainnortheast . co . uk /.
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