North East businesses given space to grow
| Durham: Wednesday, 30th November 2011 A new world of opportunities will be unveiled to North East companies at a major space event in the region in the new year. Spacetech, a conference about new developments and opportunities in the space industry, will highlight billions of pounds worth of contract prospects for businesses in the North East. The event, which has been arranged by County Durham Development Company (CDDC), the strategic investment arm of Durham County Council, will be held in February at NETPark (the North East Technology Park) in Sedgefield, and will include a talk from NASA on the organisation's plans and the contracts that will become available in the future. Businesses will also hear from industry experts including Tim Stevenson of the Square Kilometre Array Telescope Programme Office, who will share details of a €1.2bn project that North East companies will have the chance to tap into. Stewart Watkins, managing director of CDDC, said: 'The space industry represents a significant opportunity for the region's science and technology community, and hosting an event like this in the North East is a fantastic chance to highlight some of the more immediate contract prospects available to our businesses. However, while companies might be forgiven for thinking that the opportunities that exist in this sector are limited to science companies, they would be very much mistaken. The chance for more traditional companies, like those in metal fabrication or welding for instance, to capitalise on this sector are equally vast. Businesses that attend this event will, I am sure, discover that the space industry really could open up a new world of opportunities.' While the space technology sector grew by some ten per cent last year, the majority of the jobs it creates (92 per cent) are in the South East. It is thought that opportunities within the UK space sector are worth some £7.5bn annually. Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Neil Foster, said: 'The sky really is the limit for this event – the opportunities which will be opened up as a result should not be underestimated. I am delighted we will be able to host it and feel absolutely sure it will secure the county's growing global reputation as a great place to do business.' Businesses interested in attending the conference can find out more at www.northeasttechnologypark.com/spacetech or by calling CDDC on (0191) 370 8670.' |