Member Article

Downing Street honours North East technology success

The chief executive of Sunderland Software City will be at 10 Downing Street today representing the North East at an event celebrating the UK’s most enterprising technology hubs.

David Dunn will join business leaders from across the country for an audience with Prime Minister David Cameron at the UK Entrepreneurial and Technology Communities Reception.

At the reception David will highlight the work Sunderland Software City is doing to support the growth of the software industry in the region and give examples of where North East SMEs are working with Government centres of innovation.

David Dunn said: “This invitation recognises the North East as a significant location for innovative software technology.

“The Government is looking beyond London and addressing the valuable innovations, skills and jobs the regional tech hubs are contributing to the national technology industry.”

The visit to 10 Downing Street comes days after David and a host of North East entrepreneurs were invited to a special reception in honour of the UK technology sector given by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace on Monday June 9.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were joined at the reception by The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of York, who is a long standing supporter and campaigner for technology and entrepreneurship in the UK.

In light of Sunderland Software City’s continuing efforts to develop and support the software and technology sector in the North East of England, David Dunn was invited by The Duke of York to represent the region at the reception along with a number of other business leaders and spokespeople including CEO of Sunderland based Test Factory Kevin Beales, Workcast Director Gerard Callaghan, NE Bytes and DDD North founder Andrew Westgarth and Mike Fish, Managing Director of Newcastle based Dontyne Systems.

Speaking ahead of the reception, Andrew, who was representing Sage UK said: “We’re delighted to be invited to the Palace as part of a group of representatives from the North East’s incredibly dynamic and vibrant software and technology sector.

“This invitation not only recognises our individual contributions towards the prosperity of the sector but our contribution as a region to the overall UK economy.”

Approximately 350 guests were invited to attend the reception covering business leaders, innovators, academics, investors and tech start-ups from across the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Watson .