Speakers

Hon James Ramsbotham

Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce

Hon James Ramsbotham is Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce. NECC is the voice of business in the North East and takes the lead in a number of regional policy issues. It has almost 5,000 members and delivers a range of business support services, especially training and international trade advice.

Previously he was Vice Chairman of the Esh Group – the award winning North East construction group. The Group consists of twelve construction related companies jointly employing c.1,000 people producing about £100M annual sales with its Headquarters in Bowburn, Co. Durham. Prior to that he spent 14 years in Barclays Bank plc (throughout the UK) and, before that, he had 12 years soldiering in the Royal Green Jackets (throughout the world).

He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Durham, a non-exec director of Darlington Building Society, Chairman of the LSC in Co. Durham and also gives time to Newcastle University, Durham Cathedral, Auckland Castle, County Durham Development Company, Sunderland AFC Foundation, Common Purpose UK, Tyneside Cyrenians, St John's Ambulance and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

James lives with his wife and two teenage children in the Durham Dales, where his wife, who is a Director of the Co. Durham Area Tourism Partnership, runs a holiday cottage. He enjoys sailing, skiing and all outdoor country pursuits.