The North East Edge

In this episode we welcome Dame Irene Hays, a significant businesswoman in the region, former civil servant, and now Chair and owner of Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agency. Dame Irene built a major career in public service, becoming Chief Executive of both South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council, before moving into senior Whitehall roles. She has chaired Hays Travel...

This episode welcomes Jacqui Leggetter and Tom Lawson. Jacqui is Deputy Director and Head of Data Platforms and Operations in Data and Analytics at DWP Digital, part of the UK’s largest public service department, serving around 20 million customers. Her team of over a thousand digital experts in Newcastle help provide data for analytics, insight, audit, reporting and decision-making across a depar...

This episode welcomes Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, the recently renamed institution charged with turning devolution from an idea into economic momentum, and one of the UK’s most respected economists, Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, now working across universities, civic institutions and national policy debates. Together,...

Sir John Hall is a defining North East entrepreneur with a career spanning property, sport, and politics. Born in Ashington, son of a miner, for many people, Sir John was “Mr Newcastle” because he believed that the North East could think bigger, act bolder and compete with anywhere. He is best known as the founder of the Metrocentre, helping to transform Newcastle United during the Keegan years an...

The North East Edge is a 5-episode podcast series that shines a light on the regional innovators and visionaries shaping the North East region. Hosted by Charlie Hoult and Dr Fiona Whitehurst from Newcastle University's Business School, they'll be joined by guests sharing their insights and celebrating the successes of the North East business landscape.