Business Bosses Praise ‘Brilliant’ Summit As It Returns for 10th Year

The tenth Tees Valley Business Summit was packed out with more than 700 delegates as it came back as an in-person event for the first time since 2019.

Business leaders applauded the return of one of the biggest days in the region’s calendar, held once again at Teesside University.

At the event, representatives heard about the opportunities on offer at the Teesside Freeport – the UK’s largest and first operational Freeport – which saw the ground breaking of SeAH Wind Ltd’s £400million mammoth offshore wind monopile facility as the Business Summit was taking place.

Companies were told about the latest developments at Teesside Airport, which is currently capitalising on its land and assets with a £200million business park. How firms can access the funding and support they need to thrive via Tees Valley Business was also the subject of another of the 15 seminars.

It also provided a valuable networking opportunity, with more than 90 exhibitors on hand, including national and international companies such as WSP to local firms like Square One Law, fabricators Katmex and Active financial planners.

Simon Green, CEO of Edge Innovation Ltd, was one of the attendees happy to see the event back in action once again. He said: “It’s brilliant to be back in person at the Business Summit again this year and the fantastic turnout proves it’s back stronger than ever.

“There’s a real sense that there is more opportunity than ever before brimming in our region and this is the ideal platform to get together with the local business community, investors and innovators to find how we can collaborate and move forward together.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “On such a momentous day, when just minutes earlier we got spades in the ground on SeAH Wind’s huge monopile facility, it was fantastic that our businesses could hear about all of the opportunities available at our Freeport and the sites it covers, like Teesworks and our airport.

“With everyone back in one place once again, there was a real buzz and enthusiasm which shows how important the Business Summit is in supporting our companies, helping them to forge new links and grow.

“Thanks to the huge developments driving forward good-quality, well-paid jobs across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, our region is facing a period of unparalleled opportunity and I’m sure everything our innovators, job creators and entrepreneurs learned at the summit will help them succeed in the months to come.”

The event was held in partnership with UMi, Tees Valley Business, the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, North East Enterprise Agency Ltd, Square One Law and Teesside University.