ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: NEPIC BOOSTED BY INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Continued stakeholder support reflects the impact and admiration of industry-body’s work.

Friday 18 December 2015. The Annual General Meeting of industry cluster NEPIC, took place on Wednesday 16 December at the Wilton Centre on Teesside.

The business and accounts of the Cluster were presented by Chair Ian Swales and Chief Executive, Dr Stan Higgins. The company’s accounts revealed that the cluster is in good shape to continue to represent the North East’s biggest industrial sector, the process industries, which are based across the whole of the region.

Mr Swales, the cluster’s newly appointed Chair, told the members:

“I have taken on this role because this sector is vitally important to the North East economy, its communities and jobs. NEPIC has represented the sector very well to date, however I feel even more can be accomplished, especially if we further harness the will and intelligence of the Cluster Members.”

Mr Swales went on to commend the cluster for its contribution of over £3 billion of Gross Value Add to the local economy and for helping to generate over 5,000 jobs during its 10 years of existence.

He concluded by congratulating the executive team for is its professionalism, particularly in the delivery of business support projects over the last 3 years that have worked with over 400 local SMEs, generating £50 million of new business and creating 900 new jobs for the region.

The AGM also discussed was how the cluster should be funded going forward so that it retains its ability to deliver publically backed innovation, business support and technical projects in aid of the sector and its members.
In addition, the organisation communicates with a wide range of stakeholders, promotes the sector and region for investment, represents the skills needs of industry and also promotes the business of its members.

New levels of membership fees were proposed to ensure the capability and capacity of the NEPIC team – a proposal that was passed by a huge majority of the participating companies; reflecting the impact that the cluster has had within the sector and the admiration with which it is held for its work.

NEPIC Chief Executive, Dr Stan Higgins, said:

“As a private company owned by its members, we must always reflect their interests and needs. This cluster has huge input from industry focused on the growth and rejuvenation of the sector. The continued support that we have received from our membership today has ensured that NEPIC will have the capacity to deliver even more value to the local economy.”

NEPIC is a private limited company, not for profit and limited by guarantee, which is owned by the Cluster members companies who are effectively its shareholders.

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