SIR Tom Farmer, the founder of Kwik-Fit, has given his backing to the North East Entrepreneurs Forum and paid tribute to the businessmen and women working to improve prosperity in the region.

Sir Tom was speaking at the inaugural Founders' Dinner of the forum, a networking organisation set up to help new and established entrepreneurs.

Launched by Sir Richard Branson in February, the forum has more than 40 founder members who were invited to the dinner, held in Durham. Chairman Sir Peter Vardy was joined by the forum board and founder members, including Sir Ian Wrigglesworth of UK Land Estates, Carolyn van Outersterp, of CVO Fire, Alistair Arkley, chairman of New Century Inns, and Paul Campbell, of Bell Media. Sir Tom, who is honorary president of the Scottish Entrepreneurial Exchange on which the forum is based, put his own success down to his energy and the mentors who guided him over the years.

"Business for me has been a dream. I sometimes get frightened that I'm going to wake up and find it has been a dream. I have always had self-confidence but I have also had great mentors and that is what the Entrepreneurs Forum is about.

"If you can help someone be successful you will create prosperity, and the better the prosperity in your region the better the business you will have."

For more information on the Entrepreneurs Forum, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net