"Passionate People, Passionate Places" has to be one of the best phrases that truly reflects our wonderful region. The North East is filled with the very best of humanity; kind, caring, hospitable and friendly people.
Our demography is diverse and beautiful. From bustling city centres to historic castles and keeps, sandy bays to green open expansive countryside’s, whatever your mood, there is a space to suit.
I feel a true sense of belonging in the North East. I will never forget when I went off to work in the big smoke, excited by the prospect of working in the capital, this magical place where fortunes were found, having finished my studies. Managing to secure a great job working in the Civil Service at the British Council and then at a cinema in the evenings. I made more money than I could waste on a weekend. However, even with friends and associates, it was still a lonely place.
People were suspicious if you tried to talk to them in the street or God forbid help them. And what is sad is roll forward a couple of decades and London, our great capital, has not changed. It is a great city, that we should be very proud of, but still an impersonal place.
After only a year I longed to get back to my North East where I was born, where I belonged. And I did having become homesick. Maybe missing mums cooking and washing had something to do with it too.
A sense of belonging is one of the most precious and important aspects of life. We all want to belong to something, to somewhere and to somebody. And over the years I have joined various groups and networks, as one of the key lessons I had learned early on was to increase your networth you needed to increase your net-work. Not only from a financial point of view, but specifically to learn from other people and gain insights, advice and guidance.
Having subscribed to a number of trade bodies and networks, including creating my own, the one that I have been particularly impressed with and gained significant value from, is the Institute of Directors (IoD). Having become a company director in 2003 it was the first trade body I wanted to join. A prestigious organisation that has been around since 1903 with a Royal Charter to support, represent and set standards for business leaders nationwide.
My experiences of IOD events, the people involved and the development opportunities have been first-class. The organisation is inclusive, dynamic, forward looking and the largest business community within the UK.
In August I was appointed the IoD North East (North) Chairman which is a very proud moment for me. Not only does it provide a platform for us to celebrate all of the great current, and future, business leaders that we have in the North East on a national and international stage, but allows me to further my ambitions of working collectively, collaboratively and cohesively for the betterment of everyone.
Our finest achievements are only possible when we come together to work for a common cause, proudly and passionately, providing us with a true sense of belonging. (And now that I am part of the largest business community in the UK, I am sure every city, including London, will become more personable.
Ammar Mirza CBE is the founder and chairman of Asian Business Connexions, Board member of North East LEP and holds various other positions across the private, public and third sectors.
