Redcar and Cleveland Enterprise team launch first enterprising dinner

17 Nov 2008

Organised by a group of pupils from Bydale School, the enterprise dinner held on the 13th November was attended by a range of small to large businesses including TFM & Magic 1170 Radio, Darlington Building Society, AMEC and Coast and Country Housing. The event aimed to encourage greater interaction between representatives from business and education and provide an introduction to entrepreneurial figures keen on communicating the enterprising message across Redcar and Cleveland.

Craig Jones, business co-ordinator at the Redcar and Cleveland Enterprise Team said, “The enterprise dinner has been realised to help strengthen the links between local schools and businesses in the area. Traditionally, there has been communication issues between the world of academia and business, and it is one of the objectives of the enterprise team to help break down these barriers and encourage greater contact between pupils, teachers, entrepreneurs and businesses.”

The enterprise dinner guests were given the opportunity to listen to a talk from one of the original Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs, Doug Richard. Sharing advice on his experience of over 20 years in the development and leadership of technology and software ventures, Doug is one of the most high profile entrepreneurs in the UK and has provided inspiration and guidance to a number of people on the road to enterprise.

Craig continues, “Doug Richard, along with Tony Hobbs, head teacher of Bydales School and Vicky Robins from TFM, led the dinner in discussions related to encouraging enterprise within the borough and using the resources at our door to promote a culture of entrepreneurship in Redcar and Cleveland.

Cllr Mark Hannon, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Redcar and Cleveland Council said, “The dinner was a great success and our special thanks go to the pupils of Bydales School in taking the initiative to organise and manage an event of this scale to develop their own knowledge in building business links in the community. I look forward to further enterprise events between business people and schools in the future.”