When good people collaborate on great ideas and find ways to innovate it creates a real economic boost. North East LEP Business and Sector Growth Director Colin Bell explains more here.

It’s fascinating to work with high growth businesses; you know they are different as soon as you walk in the door. Why? Because you can feel the buzz of energy and excitement all around, everyone is cheerfully busy, people go out of their way to make you feel welcome, are totally engaged in what they are doing and although the rate of growth causes problems, they are dealt with relative ease as the business and its people are locked in a state of continuous adaptation and innovation. What’s interesting about such businesses is that often they don’t consciously consider themselves to be innovative – it’s just the way they are and what they do!

The opposite is true of businesses that lack real growth potential; they lack enthusiasm, there is a feeling of negativity, people are reluctant to take ownership and responsibility, people don’t follow through on actions, mediocrity is the norm, anything involving risk is belittled (just writing this is sapping my energy). Think about it, spend the day with a bunch of negative people and it will bring your energy levels right down, spend it with a group of positive people looking for a challenge (and a bit of fun) and your energy levels will go through the roof.

The great thing about the North East is that the region is bustling with the former rather than the latter and is supported by an ecosystem of people and organisations who share businesses passion, energy and unparalleled pride for the place that they are from. We are lucky to be surrounded by partners and business people who dedicate their time selflessly to inform the development of regional economic and sectoral strategy all driven be a deep sense of duty and pride – their energy and passion is infectious. To level up we must build on this energy and creating a surge, of courage, big bold ideas and innovations that will make a real and measurable difference to people’s lives.

Following government’s national review of Local Enterprise Partnerships, the North East LEP has swiftly transitioned to a new and refocused role providing a strong and independent business voice through carrying out strategic economic planning in partnership with local leaders in a way that clearly articulates their area’s economic priorities and sectoral strengths. In doing so we and our partners will continue to drive, with ‘energy’, the creation of more and better jobs through championing innovation, business and sector growth, the development of skills and attracting investment into the region.

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.” Albert Einstein

If energy is critical to innovation then energy is critical to levelling up the North East, it’s therefore essential that it be channelled into a form that is conducive to the creation of an innovation culture across the North East. We will do this by building on the momentum already created through:

• Building on our regional strengths in Advanced Manufacture, Tech, Health & Life Science, Energy and Knowledge Intensive Business Services  
• The regions Innovation Delivery Partnerships that draw on regional capabilities to capture a foothold in globally significant markets such as the ageing economy, batteries, cyber security, immersive tech, fin tech, power electronics and drives, offshore robotics, space tech, surface science and water industries.  
• To tackle some of the biggest issues facing the world through enabling the development of a culture of open and challenge led innovation.
• Continuing to champion the creation of a world class ecosystem to support our entrepreneurs and businesses from start up to scaleup.

Let’s look to the future together and with ENERGY!

For more information about the support available, please visit https://www.northeastgrowthhub.co.uk.