Back to News >

---

Source: Chronicle Live

---

Showcase North East will help diversifying businesses with tenders, proposals and building a supply chain.

Throughout the pandemic, as doors were shut and contracts were lost, Supply Chain North East and Innovate UK EDGE have been working with individuals, businesses and the public sector to find new ways forward and make sure the whole region is ready for a comeback like no other. Their advice, guidance and unmatched experience is helping rebuild a sustainable future that can find a way past any challenge.

Now an event is being held to showcase the drive and determination in so many businesses and to offer help to those who are still planning their futures and have chosen to do that in the North East.

Supply Chain North East has partnered with Innovate UK EDGE to develop this key event which is being held to showcase the drive and determination in so many businesses and to offer support to those businesses who are still planning their futures.

The one-day virtual event will offer businesses the chance to hear from top industry leaders, find out about local sector opportunities, and the opportunity to network and collaborate with local business owners.

Attendees will be able to hear from:

• HS2
• Centre for Life
• Low Carbon Journey
• Stadler
• NEPO
• European Space Agency
• Northern Space and Security Ltd, and many more.

Also included is a special talk live from America , with Dr Andrew Aldrin from the Andy Aldrin foundation.

Alan Whittaker is Programme Manager for Supply Chain North East – one of the multi-million pound programmes RTC North delivers, aimed at helping North East businesses grow, diversify and unlock new market opportunities.

“The companies we deal with have some very good products and services, but there is sometimes a narrow focus on where their skills could be deployed, so we hope the event will broaden their horizons and help them think further afield,” said Alan.

“Then we want to see people from outside the region who are working on major projects coming here and seeing what is happening with companies that have been beneficiaries of Supply Chain and highlight for them some of the opportunities they could be part of.”

Showcase North East takes place on July 8th to bring together businesses from specific sectors who are based in the North East LEP and help them to find opportunities and network.

To book your place, click here.

Alan says:

“We can help firms identify supply chain opportunities and encourage them to diversify and find other areas they can work with so that any potential risk is spread out.

“Lessons have been learned from the past in sectors like Construction and Oil & Gas that if one of your sectors is in a downturn, you need other options – like renewable energy, where transferrable skills can be of real value.

“The UK is going through a lot of change but we are fortunate here in the North East that we have such high levels of innovation and advanced technologies at companies that provide smart solutions to problems.

“This is why we have teamed up with Innovate UK EDGE, who are here to help you grow your business by protecting and harnessing IP, improving innovation management and connecting to the innovation ecosystem globally.

“Innovation should be a driving force in business, fuelling the creation of new and improved products or services to launch at home and take to global markets. But to bring that more into the spotlight we have to learn to be less insular. We do a lot of good things, but we don’t blow our own trumpet enough.”

The programme he leads, Supply Chain North East, provides businesses with tailored, specialist advice in areas including sales and marketing, digital transformation, accreditation, and compliance, providing industry insight and sector knowledge on the UK and international supply chains.

It is a partnership programme from the North East Growth Hub and is delivered by partners across the region: RTC North, Generator, North East Automotive Alliance and the North East Process Industry Cluster. It helps North East businesses to diversify their offering, expand their customer base and unlock untapped opportunities in new markets.

In the last year there have been great examples of inspirational businesses who had overnight lost access to some of their supply chain, but who were able to pivot so they could keep working. Each business, case by case, had their own way of approaching this and getting the right support.

Alan says North East firms are keen to plan for the future and make sure there are firm foundations in place for growth and investment.

“We need to make sure there is plenty of visibility of what is coming round the corner,” he said.

“That not only applies to this region, but work outside the region as well. You don’t need to be local to where the project is happening, you just need the capability, competitiveness and ability to showcase what you can do.”

On the day there will be:

• Business Speed Networking
• Industry Key Note speakers, opportunities and hear from SMEs who supply those sectors
• One to One meetings (With other local businesses, business support professionals)
• Virtual Meet ups covering many topics
• Virtual Exhibition Profile – Promote your business and generate leads

For more information on how Innovate UK EDGE can support your business click here.

To see how Supply Chain North East can help businesses build on their strengths and take advantage of opportunities for growth in new markets click here.

---