North's leaders look for way out of crisis

Leading figures from business, trade unions and the public sector met at Samsung, on Teesside, to unveil proposals aimed at helping beleagured manufacturers survive in the grim market.

The Billingham manufacturing summit was hosted by regional agency One NorthEast. Its aim was to form a powerful alliance of organisations and firms dedicated to creating a brighter future.

The highlight of the symposium was intended to be the unveiling of a Regional Manufacturing Plan as well as the interim findings of a skills audit of the region's manufacturing base. But the main topic of conversation was the fate of Rothmans' 500 workers and the knock-on effect of yet another high profile closure.

At the heart of the new blueprint is the message that manufacturing - that still employs 175,000 people across the North East - will continue to be a pillar of the regional economy for years to come.

Improving the skills of the region's workforce is seen as crucial to meeting employers' demands.

Delegates mapped out an action plan for future implementation based on the final skills audit results to be released in September.

One NorthEast, the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), Learning and Skills Council Tyne and Wear, CBI, TUC, North East Chamber of Commerce and Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence have united in an effort to raise awareness of skills issues.

One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge and chief executive Alan Clarke opened the meeting and Nick Brayshaw, chief executive of Wagon plc and chairman of the CBI Manufacturing Council, made the keynote speech.

Speakers from major companies such as Samsung, House of Hardy, Caterpillar, Atmel and Filtronic also made presentations to the summit.

Mr Clarke said: "It is crucial for the future success of our region that we continue to have a strong manufacturing base with the skilled employees able to fill the increasingly specialist job requirements of tomorrow."