JO LENNON - Co-founder of KnitLab North, a design and prototyping studio for aspiring knitwear brands.
Did you grow up in the North East or did you decide to relocate here in later life?
I grew up in Northumberland although we moved around a little. I moved away to Lancaster for University but settled back in the Northumberland when I completed my studies.
What do you think it means to be a business person in the North East of England?
I think there’s an atmosphere of support which makes it much easier to thrive as a business person. People seem a lot less guarded and more open to helping you grow. I also think that we’re great at showing resilience, maybe it’s a determination to prove our place on the national stage! What is your favourite aspect of life in the North East? I love the variety of environments we have in such a short distance. We’re so lucky to have the coast, the countryside and the cities within such a short travelling distance, it makes it so easy to escape and take time out to refresh and reset.
Where do you like to eat out in the region?
I have some favourite out-of-the-way places like the Cook and Barker Inn at Newton-on-theMoor, our local restaurant Lollo Rosso for its friendly atmosphere or the beautiful seafood at the Jolly Fisherman at Craster.
Are the people really friendlier?
I’ve travelled a lot working across the UK and I’ve always found that people in the North East just seem to smile more! However, I do think the world is the place you make it – friendliness attracts friendliness.
What do you think is the best view in the North East?
I love the coast of Northumberland and I always think that’s the best view, we have some amazing wildlife in our coastal waters and watching dolphins, seals and even the odd whale is a beautiful sight. Do you think living and working in the North East offers the same opportunities as elsewhere in the UK? The North East is such an amazing place to live and work, but I don’t think that we’re the natural ‘go to’ place for business. I’ve seen huge improvements over the last few years and operating during lockdown has definitely made the world seem like a smaller and more accessible place; it’s less about needing people on your doorstep.
Have you any experience of working elsewhere and how did it compare?
I think experiences are always down to the people you work with and the environments they choose to create. Business culture is such as huge factor in any workplace, the more aware business leaders are of the culture they create the better the working experience for everyone.
