Building society chief elected new Chamber president

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North East England Chamber of Commerce members have elected Andrew Haigh, (Newcastle Building Society) as their new President at the virtual AGM, broadcast from the Pride Media Centre in Gateshead.

Andrew Haigh succeeds Lesley Moody OBE (AES Digital Solutions) who held the role for three years, the longest serving President in the Chamber’s 207 year history. Deborah Walton (Palintest) was elected Vice-President.

In his speech Andrew Haigh set out the theme for his term. He said: “At the Chamber our mission is one of, ‘a Stronger North East’.

“However, I’d like to suggest there’s one word we could add to that mission – that our mission could be one of, a Stronger, Fairer North East. Over the next two years I’d like to use my opportunity to prompt thinking, work and campaigns which support more young people in the North East to get great skills and good jobs.

“Growing talent within our region and then creating the opportunities to keep it here is, I believe, one of the most important concerns for everyone in the North East right now.

“I’d like to use my tenure as President to begin conversations with businesses and think about the practical, often simple steps we can take as employers and businesses to make sure we create a region in which every young person, and adult, can thrive.”

Chamber chief executive John McCabe thanked Lesley Moody for her hard work and after recapping on the last 12 months he set out how he sees the next year.

“Yes, we face economic headwinds and they might get stronger before we can turn them to our tail. But I’m hugely optimistic for our region’s future.

“I sense a spirit of collaboration, a sense of ambition, a resolve to seize the opportunity and shape a better future for this unique region we call home. The Chamber will play its full part in this endeavour.”

Chamber President sets out challenges for levelling up

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North East England Chamber of Commerce President, Lesley Moody, OBE, MBE today (20 January 2020) set out the important part businesses can play in levelling up and growing the regional economy.

Speaking at a Westminster Social Policy Forum event ‘Next Steps for the Northern Powerhouse’, she said: “North East statistics on areas such as health, education and employment fall way below the rest of the country. The result is that we can never hope to achieve our economic potential while these appalling gaps exist in our society.

“Unless we are prepared to acknowledge the serious challenges facing many of our people and our communities, we will continue to apply a heavy brake on our ambitions. So, we need to be honest with ourselves as to the starting point, then we can set short and long-term goals and plan how we best to monitor and evaluate the success, or otherwise, of levelling up. And again, some people might wonder why is business concerned about.

“Poverty, dying younger than the national average, and communities unable to grasp job opportunities, are all a moral tragedy and an economic own goal. It’s for business to make sure that addressing this is high on the agenda, so that further down the line we have a stronger community and a workforce with the skills needed to grow our economy

“What we have to do to achieve this is for regions to look at the bigger picture as well as levelling up activity with measures in place to evaluate its effectiveness.

“We also need to take into account the socio-geographical picture of our regions. A levelling up initiative in one part of a region should be good news for the wider region too.

“So, let’s be very clear. Business has both the opportunity and obligation to play a major role in tackling these issues. We want to build a ‘good’ economy in our region – one that is well connected, welcoming and supportive and in which barriers to prosperity are continually reducing.

“To do this, we will need to embrace the principles of ‘good business’ and ‘good work’. So, when it comes to levelling up, our offer is simple.

“There is enormous expertise in our business community. We know how to create jobs, upskill our workforce, innovate and solve some of the biggest challenges facing us today.

“We do this not just to make money, but also because we care about our communities and the places in which we operate. Because we know that we are an integral part of a good economy and that a good economy is good for all of us.”

Also speaking at the event were Henri Murison, director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Martin Tugwell, chief executive Transport for the North and Barry Hodgson, deputy director, National Innovation Centre for Data.

North East Businesses hear Archbishop praise for community spirit

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Over 160 North East business leaders heard the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev & Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell at Ramside Hall, Durham give a keynote speech about emerging from the pandemic needing the same skills following World War II.

At the Chamber President’s lunch which was also attended by the Bishops of Durham and Newcastle, the Archbishop said: “We need to do the same expansive dreaming about what our economy and society can be like after Covid. Our sense of community and the spirit we had seen during the darkest days of the pandemic is perfect evidence of our need for affirmation and hopefulness. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is how much we depended on the labour of others who we have often taken for granted.”

In his speech he also spoke of his fondness for the North East having been a regular visitor for over 30 years. He also commented on the tremendous economic and social change he had witnessed in the region during that time.

The Archbishop reflected on the challenges that lie ahead for the region’s business community, most importantly that of climate change.

He said: “The lessons of the pandemic can be put to use here, we must confront the environmental emergency by working together, sharing good ideas and practice.”

Lesley Moody, Chamber President, AES Digital Solutions, paid tribute to James Ramsbotham as it was his last Chamber event as chief executive and welcomed everyone to the first President’s lunch in person rather via the internet. She also congratulated those companies who had been shortlisted for Chamber awards in 2020 and presented them with recognition of their achievements, as the competition was cancelled due to Covid.

The President’s Club is in association with Learning Curve and the lunch event was sponsored by Tribe 365.

Photo caption Left to right, John McCabe, Chamber chief executive, Lesley Moody, Chamber President, James Ramsbotham, outgoing Chamber chief executive, Archbishop of York, the Most Rev & Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and Oliver Randall, director, Tribe 365

Leading Arctic explorer urges business leaders

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Robert Swan, the first person to walk both the North and South Poles, has urged North East business leaders to support his campaign to fight Climate Change. 

Speaking to North East England Chamber of Commerce President’s Club members, Robert, who was brought up in County Durham but now works in California, set out his ambitious plans for a 2041 Antarctic ship expedition in November.  

He said: “It is my lifelong passion to raise awareness of Climate Change and the need for more renewable energy to protect our planet.  When I saw both Arctic regions on my treks, the devastation of the ice caps was shocking.  People need to know how immediate these problems are and act to change our attitudes to the environment.” 

Robert Swan started his career as an adventurer when he was 23 with a fundraising campaign for his polar trek ambition.  The first one was to the South Pole when he was 28 and with his team, he walked 900 miles with no radio or GPS.  

Every year Robert and his son Barney lead an Expedition to the Antarctic  involving women and men from industry, business and students. The expedition’s focus is to encourage, inspire and  educate them  on how our planet is changing.   

Learning Curve is associate sponsor of the Chamber President Club and the Robert Swan event was sponsored by One Awards. 

Further information on Robert Swan and his Antarctic trip is available on robertswan.com. 

Praise for North East companies resilience

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North East England Chamber of Commerce members heard a detailed review of how businesses have tackled the Covid challenges as well as the substantial achievements and growth of some companies over the past year.

Opening the meeting, Lesley Moody, Chamber President, (AES Digital Solutions) paid tribute to the hard work of all members of the region’s business community and said she saw confidence improving. She also highlighted the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on young people trying to get on the career ladder in sectors which had been so hard hit by the lockdowns.

The Chamber Northern Annual Review was sponsored by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and its chair Lucy Winskell stressed the importance of partnership working to the region’s success. She said “The Chamber, local and combined authorities, businesses, education and voluntary sector partners and Trade Unions had pulled together in a remarkable way to support the COVID- 19 Response and Recovery plan led by the North East LEP, and have continued to do so. Despite our disappointment about our unsuccessful freeport bid the regional partnership working was exceptional and a great testament to everyone’s positive working relationships”.

Lucy also noted how proud she was about some of the initiatives the North East LEP had mobilised and delivered responsively to support businesses throughout the pandemic, including the £47m Getting Building Fund, the North East Growth Hub supporting over 40,000 businesses to find the support they need to start, grow and survive during the pandemic.

A snapshot of one of the Chamber Partner members past year was given by Womble Bond Dickinson’s (WBD) Newcastle Partner Nigel Emmerson. He shared the news that the legal practice will be moving from its Quayside base to a new and improved workspace at the Spark on Newcastle’s Helix development.

Nigel told Chamber members that within three days of the first national lockdown the firm’s 1,100-strong UK workforce, including around 450 professionals based in Newcastle – the firm’s largest UK office – were set up and working from home. Business continuity and resilience planning played a key part in the success of this. It was a major logistical feat and not only has it worked well but it is shaping how the firm intends to return to work now that restrictions are easing.

Working from home has been an undeniable success of WBD and one that is set to continue, albeit in a hybrid way. Technological developments like electronic signatures have transformed the way in which legal documents are executed and Microsoft Teams enabled the firm to find new ways of working that suit its people without adversely affecting productivity.

Nigel Emmerson also outlined the way the firm will work from the new office, due to be reality in June 2022. The firm is looking to create specific zones for different work activities, whilst maintaining confidentiality. There will of course be fixed desks for routine office based tasks combined with quiet spaces such as library rooms. However a large part of the office will consist of different areas intended to facilitate collaboration and innovation including a café to accommodate 90 people.

Chamber calls for tax change to 9pm taxi fares expense claims

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The North East’s largest independent business organisation is calling on the Government to change HMRC rules so that taxi fares can be claimed as a working expense before the current 9pm threshold.

North East England Chamber of Commerce has written to Government with its members’ view that the time constraint discourages people to take taxis before 9pm as they may be unable to get reimbursed for it. This time limit can cause problems in a number of ways from personal safety and impacting on employees with mobility issues where other modes of transport are difficult to access.

Lesley Moody said: “This arbitrary rule is outdated and unfair, both for employees and employers. Companies have a duty to take care of their employees and often taxis are the safest way to travel so are a legitimate business expense, no matter the time of day. For example people may need travel to meetings or events at late notice in areas they may not be familiar with or areas away from public transport links.

“Ensuring that people with mobility issues, those without access to a car, and people travelling after dark in isolated areas, are able to book taxis if they prefer is essential to ensure access meetings, events and training opportunities. Employees shouldn’t be penalised if these meetings take place before 9pm.”

Lesley Moody, Chamber President and Alix Bolton, chair of the Chamber Women’s Leadership Forum signed the letter on behalf of members.

Download a copy of the letter here.

Chamber President discusses our Budget Submission

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Lesley Moody, President, North East England Chamber of Commerce said:

“The Chamber is the voice of the North East. My company, AES Digital Solutions, like many of our members joined the Chamber to ensure our views were heard at a local, regional and national level. Through the Chamber’s influence the region’s voice is heard by the Chancellor and it has never been more true that together we grow stronger.

“It is so important Government keeps its promise to level up our region and we will continue to hold their feet to the fire to ensure it happens. The country’s economy needs to be rebalanced to help tackle issues such as our high unemployment. I believe greater devolution would also help enable us to boost productivity and encourage growth. We could be far more effective as businesses and as a region if more decisions could be made on a local basis. It seems to me to be a ‘no brainer’ that greater freedom to solve problems, quickly and without unnecessary constraints would help us grow our regional economy”

Find out more about our budget submissions