FAMILY firms and global corporations will meet as equals at the launch of a collaboration between companies in the North-East chemical and pharmaceutical sector today.

Sunderland's Stadium of Light is hosting the launch of the region's Pharmaceuticals and Speciality Chemicals Cluster.

The cluster, which has about 75 members, hopes to build a supply chain across the industry, from cleaning companies to multi-nationals such as Proctor and Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline.

The North-East chemical industry consists of about 150 firms, employing nearly 14,000 people and contributing £4.5bn to the GDP of the UK.

Small firms, such as Edwards' Analytical, in Winston, near Barnard Castle, underpin the industry, and it is companies like Edwards' that the cluster hopes to benefit.

Converted agricultural buildings at the end of a farm track is not where you would expect to find modern laboratories that deal with firms across the globe.

But David Edwards, principal partner at Edwards' Analytical, believes the location is ideal for his company, which consists of himself, his son, John, and two administrative staff, including wife Linda.

"We are not far from the A1, the A66 or Teesside Airport, so it is perfect for us," said Mr Edwards. "Though these days, I think it is becoming less and less important where you are based."

For 15 years, Mr Edwards ran the central packaging analysis and evaluation laboratory for the GlaxoSmithKline Group in Barnard Castle, before setting up Edwards' Analytical in 1987.

The company carries out analysis and testing on plastics, rubber and other packaging materials, as well as archaelogical and historical artefacts.

The company's clients include GlaxoSmithKline, and it has customers from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Edwards hopes that membership of the cluster will help to improve his contacts.

He said: "There are a lot more small firms like ours starting up. Nowadays, I think a lot of the big companies cannot afford to take on smaller specialist groups and support them, so a lot of work gets sent outside.

"However, one of the big problems with any small business is advertising and networking. Hopefully, through the cluster, people will get to know us and we will get to know other people."

Dr Stan Higgins, chief executive of the cluster, believes by providing this link, skills and information will be shared, attracting more industry to the region.

He said: "There are many little companies that are supporting the major ones in this industry.

"The chemical industry has always been a very competitive one, but we hope to enable the industry to work together to ensure sustainability.

"Edwards' Analytical is an excellent example of a little company supporting major multi-nationals - from a farmhouse.

Dr Higgins said it was not only small companies that would benefit. "Larger ones see that certain areas, like skills and attracting people into the industry, are problems for everybody," he said.

"This is a good way to influence stake-holders like local government."