The final day of our Knowledge Exchange Tour 2013 took us first to Lynemouth Community Trust where we were welcomed by Andrew Gooding. The vision of the Trust is based upon its desire to assist the village and the area which it serves to secure the social and economic regeneration of the village for the benefit of local residents. It seeks to build a strong and vibrant community; a thriving local economy; employment training and learning opportunities; and a strong local identity.
Our Malaysian delegation were also treated to a demonstration of chocolate making at Kenspeckle, one of the social enterprises housed by the Lynemouth Community Trust which has recently formed a partnership with Selfridges with a view to supplying them with Chocolate Coal. An inspiring story.
The tour then took its final turn to the city of Newcastle, where a scrumptious array of local food greeted us at Café 21 where Chef Terry Laybourne, Michelin Starred, talked the group through the Northumbrian Tasting menu he had prepared.
During lunch, Jane Hogan, Chief Executive of Taste NE welcomed our party to Newcastle, and explained the work of her social enterprise in bringing together and promoting food producers across the North East. Deb McGargle, Co-Director of innovative legal firm Particular Legal gave a stimulating presentation about the history of industrialisation in the North East, and in particular in the Tees Valley, highlighting the development of a thriving creative and digital industry in the region. Finally Jayne Graham, Founder of Colleagues on Tap, explained how she and her associates support the growth of owner-managed and home-based businesses through providing a regular programme of coworking events for people who usually work alone.
The group bade farwell to Newcastle and returned back to London courtesy of Durham City Coaches to connect with flights to Malaysia. None of the group had been to the North East before and they left saying how they would love to return and also recommend others to this region of vibrant SME and social enterprises.
A full gallery of photographs by official tour photographer James Sebright, and feedback from those involved in the tour, will be coming soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep in touch with this and future information about insights into enterprise and entrepreneurship with ICE .
