Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Innovative Firms Show How to Succeed in Global Economy
Ensuring Britain’s success in an increasingly competitive global economy will be the focus of a keynote speech by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today at the launch of ‘FutureStory Newcastle and the North East’ at the Discovery Museum.
FutureStory Newcastle and the North East forms part of a series of six books made up of a collection of local case studies, with accompanying DVDs, tracing how people and businesses in cities and regions across the country are adapting to the global economy.
The book is aimed at a variety of audiences but there are three key groups to which it will be of particular interest:
· Key influencers who are charged with creating strategic direction for the city/region
· Young people who are growing up in the age of the global economy
· Businesses and entrepreneurs who compete on a global scale
The project highlights how businesses in regions across the UK can take best advantage of the opportunities offered by the global marketplace. The FutureStory book launched today aims to puts a human face on globlisation – how it is working in Newcastle and the North East.
Produced with the help of innovative enterprises, education providers and other organisations across Newcastle, FutureStory’s “Local Heroes” tell the story of their city. The book explores its past, present and future and how the traditional jobs of coal, shipbuilding and heavy industry in the region have been replaced by innovation, science and research as well as entrepreneurial businesses operating on a global platform.
This event will emphasise the entrepreneurial spirit and industrial skills that characterise the region. In addition, a panel discussion hosted by Newcastle University Business School will see some of the ‘Local Heroes’ bring to life what it takes to succeed on the global stage.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:
“Ten years ago, too much of the talk about our great industrial cities was about what had been lost. These days, it’s increasingly about what’s new, the new jobs and industries, the new links to the global economy.
“That renaissance is being led by our people, backed up by with public investment and a strong commitment to enterprise. One of the clearest messages of the FutureStory initiative is that we can’t let the recent global financial crisis derail that progress.”
Lucy Parker, Chair, Talent & Enterprise Taskforce, says
“Britain’s cities have always depended on enterprising people and innovative businesses for their success. With increasing global competition, this is more true than ever. So the “future story” of Newcastle and the rest of the North East is all abut finding new ways to build on their strengths – and developing new ones.”
Newcastle University Business School’s Visiting Distinguished International Scholar, Professor Scott Shane will also talk at the event, focusing on his extensive research into entrepreneurship and innovation.
Professor Shane comments:
"This event is important because it is indicative of Newcastle and the North East’s commitment to focusing its attention on building high potential, high growth companies.”
Notes to Editors
1. Organisations contributing to the book included Sage, IHC Engineering, St. Cuthberts High School, The Sage Gateshead, Centre for Life, Narec and Newcastle Business School.
2. The Talent and Enterprise Taskforce, and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills has partnered with the Centre for Cities to produce a series of forward-looking books, to promote a wider understanding of how globalisation is changing everyday lives and jobs.
3. The Talent and Enterprise Taskforce is based in the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Central to the role of the Taskforce is promoting the imperative of unlocking talent.
4. The Centre for Cities is a non-partisan research and policy institute, working with cities, employers and central Government to help improve cities’ economic performance.
5. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
6. Newcastle University Business Schoolhas a diverse and cosmopolitan student community comprising 18,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 110 countries. Over the next five years the University aims to grow this community by increasing the number of international students enrolling on its programmes.
We request that you please ensure that Newcastle University Business School’s full name is mentioned in any copy and that it is not shortened or abbreviated in any way as to save confusion with other institutions.
For Newcastle University Business School media enquiries please contact Hayley or Sujarda at Karol Marketing Group on 0191 265 7765 or e-mail: hayley@karolmarketing.com / sujarda@karolmarketing.com
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Alex. Hamilton
Phone: 020 7215 5976
Alex.Hamilton@bis.gsi.gov.uk
