‘More of the same’ says Fastest 50 guest speaker

Ed Cox, Director at influential think-tank IPPR North, says he believes more companies in the North East can follow in the footsteps of the 50 businesses announced as the fastest growing in the region last week.

Ed Cox of IPPR North

Ed (pictured) will be the keynote speaker at the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards, which take place at BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art, on Friday 9 October.

The event will see awards given to the fastest growing small business, fastest growing medium-sized business and the fastest growing large business with one of these three winners going on to be crowned the overall fastest growing business in the North East for 2015.

The 50-strong list from which the winners will emerge appeared in The Journal last week and Ed Cox says that the North East’s huge potential means that many more can follow their lead.

Ed said: “It is a privilege to be the guest speaker at such an important event for the North East business community, which showcases and celebrates the success, talent and innovation of the region’s fastest growing firms.

“I want to see even more businesses in the North East thrive and see the region fulfil its undoubted and untapped potential.

“The 50 firms in this year’s list show what can be achieved with enterprise and hard-work. But I believe there could be many more who could join them and that companies here have a unique opportunity to see their business and the North East economy go full steam ahead.”

IPPR North has played a considerable role in putting the potential of the North’s economy high on the political agenda of all the major parties.

The think-tank’s series of reports covering issues such as transport, infrastructure funding and devolution pre-dated the Chancellor’s concept of the Northern Powerhouse and its subsequent research has generated national headlines.

In June, IPPR North’s report revealed the enthusiasm amongst North businesses for devolution whilst earlier this month, the think-tank concluded that there was the potential for the region to enjoy Victorian-era levels of growth, given the right investment.

IPPR North is now calling on businesses in the North East to get involved with the process and help shape the agenda while there is still time.

Ed Cox said: “A lot has been said about the Northern Powerhouse and it is a subject which often causes fevered debate, particularly around its geography, ownership and governance.

“But rather than letting the opportunity passing by, business can shape this agenda by getting involved and showing the leadership that has seen them create jobs and growth which keep the economy moving.

“I firmly believe the North East’s leaders have much to offer and there is a closing window of opportunity to really shape the region’s future.

“I look forward to talking about this and how we achieve this goal at the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards next month.”

Colin Hewitt, Partner and Head of Commercial at law firm Ward Hadaway, organiser of the awards, said: “IPPR North has been a highly influential voice in the debate surrounding the Northern Powerhouse and has been a long-standing advocate for harnessing and developing the North’s economic potential.

“It will be interesting to hear Ed’s thoughts on how the Northern Powerhouse agenda is currently playing out and how that is likely to affect the Fastest 50 and the North East economy in the time to come at the Fastest 50 Awards next month.”

The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 is compiled by Durham Business School/St Chad’s College using publicly available information from Companies House and ranks privately owned, profit-making companies according to their annualised turnover.

* Find out more about the Fastest 50 Awards.