HIGH-profile business commentator Justin Urquhart Stewart is marking May 17 in his diary as the date to address an inaugural County Durham business event.

The former barrister will be the principal speaker at the first County Durham Business Show, backed by The Northern Echo.

The event, at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, will also feature expedition leader Major Ken Hames as after dinner speaker.

The event is being organised by Enterprise Event Management, with County Durham Development Company as the major sponsor.

Mr Urquhart Stewart is a freelance commentator on market events and developments and appears regularly on television and radio programmes, including Business Breakfast, Working Lunch, The Financial World Tonight and Wake Up to Money.

Having trained as a barrister, he chose to move into international corporate finance, working in Africa, Singapore and Europe.

He founded Broker Services in 1986, which later became Barclays Stockbrokers, the largest retail stockbroker in the UK.

Maj Hames has led a life of danger and adventure, having crossed the Sahara twice, and climbed many of the world's biggest mountains.

He spent 24 years in the Army before pursuing a career in factual documentary making.

The evening's entertainment will also feature The Northern Echo Lifetime of Achievement Award, which will be presented to a key business person in County Durham.

Nominations are being sought for the award, to be presented by editor of The Northern Echo, Peter Barron.

Nominations should be sent to Hillary Dunne, marketing manager at Enterprise Event Management, The Imperial Centre, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NQ. Alternatively, send her an email to hillary