A conversation with someone on LinkedIn about the 2019 General Election got me thinking about the result. It had been hailed as a great success for the Conservative party and in terms of seats it certainly was. The party saw a rise in the number of seats in the commons of over 10%, from 317 … Continue reading Conservative win or Labour loss?
Dynamo on the Wear
This was my sixth Dynamo North East conference. There have only been six and so I have a 100% attendance record. All of them have been good, most of them have been great but this one was exceptional. Why? I have been asking myself that very question. Firstly, the venue was great. Sunderland University’s campus … Continue reading Dynamo on the Wear
So we’ve had the European Elections 2019
It was certainly an interesting election, despite the poor turnout. Overall turnout was around 37% of the electorate, up from 35.6 in 2014 which still means that nearly 2 out of every 3 people did not exercise their democratic right. The picture in the North East constituency was even worse with just 32.7% turnout, from … Continue reading So we’ve had the European Elections 2019
Newcastle Startup week
By all accounts, Newcastle Startup Week was a great success. Praise for the week long festival that focuses on helping new businesses to get off the ground has been effusive. It is a must attend in the ever increasing calendar of events that are highlighting the great things that are going on across the region. … Continue reading Newcastle Startup week
One Region One Sector One Statement
Today sees the publication of One Region One Sector One Statement, a document that sets out to establish the North East as a world leader for creative digital and tech Innovation. It has been a labour of love, developed over many months, by a small team from across the sector in the region. The real … Continue reading One Region One Sector One Statement
Building credibility
How can you build credibility? By being credible of course. It is easily said but not so easily done. Hopefully you are aware that I am trying to help build a cyber (information security) cluster in the North East. I want to see the region positioned as a leading player in this important and growing … Continue reading Building credibility
Defining a problem
Understanding the tech industry in the region is a new challenge for me. For various reasons, including out of personal interest, I have been grappling with this as a problem over the last few months. You would think that information about businesses, markets and turnover would be readily available. Perhaps it is but so far … Continue reading Defining a problem
Who runs the North East now
In October, Northumbria and Durham universities updated their 2000 report ‘Who Runs the North East Now? Governance and Governing in an English Region’. It looks at the way that the public sector is lead throughout the region and, at times, makes grim reading. It seems that little has changed since the turn of the millennium, … Continue reading Who runs the North East now
Dynamites 17
This year’s Dynamites awards was a little easier for me in some ways than last. It was the fourth time that we have come together to celebrate the best of the tech industry across the North East region. Last year, as chair of the judges it was part of my job to stand up on … Continue reading Dynamites 17
You said – we listened
By rights I am not sure if I should still be the chair of Socitm North East. Since moving from the public to the private sector, or the dark side as I hear it called my position has become questionable. According to those who know such things in Socitm, the chair should be a public … Continue reading You said – we listened
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 