EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, 12th March 2021

Join Barclays to hear from Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen who will give you an update on plans to secure a Freeport for the region and what this will mean for small and medium sized companies across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. Ben will also provide an update on the ongoing investment and work at Teesside International Airport which the mayor successfully saved from closure in 2019.

The event will be hosted by Chris Forrest, Co-Head of SMEs, Barclays and Rachel Bell, Area Business Manager for Newcastle, Northumberland and Teesside, Barclays. You will have the opportunity to ask Ben questions during the event.

Ben Houchen was elected as the Conservative Mayor of the Tees Valley in May 2017. Prior to becoming Mayor, Ben was a Councillor on Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council, representing Yarm and Kirklevington Ward. He also led the Council’s opposition Conservative Group. In 2012 he stood as the Conservative parliamentary candidate in the Middlesbrough by-election, and in 2014 stood to become our region’s Member of the European Parliament.

As Mayor, Ben is implementing an ambitious agenda to increase economic growth and prosperity. He wants to create a strong local economy that creates good quality jobs, underpinned by an even stronger private sector. His personal commitments include: saving Teesside Airport; supporting businesses to grow; delivering the housing that the region needs; ensuring an effective structure for Cleveland Police; and securing protected food status for ‘The Parmo’ – a much loved local delicacy.

Ben lives in Yarm with his wife Rachel, a French teacher at a local secondary school.

Event timings:
14:15 - Event Start
15:00 - Event Close

Click here to register to attend: events.barclays.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=607732&ebs=*/encrypted_id/*