A NORTH-EAST man has been elected vice-chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
John Wright runs training and consultancy company CATC, of Middlesbrough.
The company employs 12 staff and runs courses in anything from health and safety to management services.
It has won Investors in People accreditation.
Mr Wright said he hoped to set an example to small companies.
He said: "Small firms are the backbone of the economy. They are created in the regions and they stay in the regions and we want to see them expand and become even more successful."
The FSB is the largest small business organisation in the UK and has 185,000 members.
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