Ward Hadaway To Host Workshop As Part Of Northern Powerhouse Business Summit

The Northern Powerhouse Business Summit, part of the Great Exhibition of the North, is the first event of its kind to be held by Government in Newcastle/Gateshead. It will bring together small businesses, government ministers, Northern Mayors, and business leaders from across the North of England.

Ward Hadaway’s event on Thursday, July 5^th will see a panel of companies that have won the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 over the years share their stories to inspire and inform others and help them achieve their own successes.

The panel, chaired by Ward Hadaway’s Head of Commercial, Colin Hewitt, will explore key milestones, major challenges they have faced and their attitude to risk. Business leaders will also discuss the funding landscape, Brexit, staff retention and skills.

Among those attending are Shannon Harvey, Head of Technology at Wakefield-based live events company, Production Park.

Production Park won this year’s Fastest Growing Medium-Sized Business at the eighth Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards in March.

Stephen Ormerod, Finance Director of Rochdale-based Frontline Healthcare will also be on the panel.

The healthcare products retailer fought off stiff competition in May to take home the award for fastest-growing small business at the Greater Manchester Fastest 50 Awards.

A representative from furniture manufacturer Bentincks Ltd of Gateshead is expected to be on hand to give insight into their company’s success. Bentincks was named the fastest-growing small business of 2017 in the Newcastle Fastest 50 Awards.

Andrew Hodgson, Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership makes up the final member on the panel. Andrew is a key figure in the North East business world. As chief executive officer of Wallsend-based subsea engineering firm Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD), he was also a winner at the Fastest 50 Awards.

SMD won the awards for fastest growing large business and overall fastest growing business in the 2009 Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards, 11 years after its holding company – Bywell Holdings – won the fastest growing large business award in the very first Fastest 50 Awards in 1998.

Colin Hewitt, Head of Commercial at Ward Hadaway, said: “We are delighted to host this workshop as part of the Great Exhibition of the North to celebrate the success of our Northern businesses.

“The Northern Powerhouse is a priority for our government and therefore the business summit has to be a central part of the Great Exhibition of the North.

“We need an economy that is fit for the future and by showcasing our industrial strengths through events like this, it is hoped that we will attract future investment for the region.

“Our event in our 30^th anniversary year brings together the key people and businesses who can develop plans for future growth in the North. It will allow us to gain a fascinating insight from those who have been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

“It is also a great event to hold in the run-up to our annual Fastest 50 awards in Newcastle in October, when we will once again celebrate success in business by recognising outstanding achievements across our Northern heartland.”

If you would like to attend the event, please contact michelle.mcbride@wardhadaway.com