I was recently asked to give the afterdinner keynote at a conference on future energy resources. Initially, I was reluctant to accept this speaking engagement. After all, what the heck do I know about lithium mining? A little more now as it goes.
I was recently asked to give the afterdinner keynote at a conference on future energy resources. Initially, I was reluctant to accept this speaking engagement. After all, what the heck do I know about lithium mining? A little more now as it goes.
On enquiring further, the organisers wanted me to speak as the audience was mostly from outside of the region and they wanted someone passionate about the North East and entrepreneurship to sell the benefits of doing business here. Much more up my street!
When preparing my talk, I looked back at enterprise in the region and considered what might strike a chord with the audience. I was reminded of the great industrial history we have – engineering prowess, mining, ship building and more recently as key innovators in wind power. It made me think that as a region we are often too humble about our achievements, and this allows cities like Manchester to hog the limelight when the spotlight hits those areas ‘up north’ usually as part of a levelling up agenda or in relation to the Northern Powerhouse.
I shared tales of the grit and determination of Geordies, how we graft hard and have a laugh along the way. How we don’t take ourselves too seriously but can be relied on to get the job done, and to do it well. I spoke about the Angel of the North they passed as they headed towards Newcastle and how when she arrived, she received very mixed reviews with locals thinking it a waste of money and a blot on the landscape. But now our Angel is loved by most and a real icon that is as recognisable as our Tyne Bridge. I likened the Angel to our people. After all, what better representation could there be than a strong, powerful, and industrial angel with her feet firmly on the ground?
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