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'Under the radar' businesses boosted by Innovate Tees Valley Festival

Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium hosted the first Innovate Tees Valley Festival yesterday, an event dedicated to championing innovation in the area.

The Festival brought together 17 expert speakers and 35 exhibitors for a full day of activities, which saw 250 delegates in attendance..

Speakers included local and national experts on innovation, product development, finance and business growth.

With sessions hosted by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Teesside University, delegates were able to learn about the innovation work going on in the area and the breadth of support available to local businesses.

Speakers such as James Robson MBE and Alastair Waite shared their journeys from start-up through to multi-million pound businesses, highlighting how earlier stage businesses can follow in their footsteps.

The Festival closed with almost 100 meetings between Tees Valley businesses and investors, with the aim of securing the finance local companies need to grow. Investors travelled from across the country, including from London, Birmingham, Yorkshire and the North West, to see the exciting opportunities available in the Tees Valley.

Abu Ali, Corporate Finance Director at Baldwins Corporate Finance, helped to run the investor sessions and was surprised by the innovative businesses getting involved.

He said:“It’s fantastic to meet businesses that would normally fly ‘under the radar’ but are developing great ideas.

“To me, the Festival was a way to break down the boundaries between innovative businesses, professional advisors and investors for the benefit of all.”

Neil Kenley, Business Director at the Combined Authority, outlined future plans at the Festival.

He said: “To unlock further growth, we need to be better connected and provide a supportive business environment. Innovate Tees Valley, the Business Compass and our investment activities are ways in which businesses can benefit in a practical way.

“It’s now up to them to take advantage of the support on offer.”

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