He spoke to an invited audience from the region’s business community on the subject of Globalisation and Competition. He spoke about the role of globalisation in shaping the fortunes of the Tees Valley and the importance of ensuring that the UK offers an attractive fiscal and regulatory environment for international investors.
Mr Lambert highlighted the critical role higher level skills play in the UK’s international competitiveness. He also welcomed the University’s collaboration with employers to ensure that the Teesside skills base is fit for the future.
Reflecting on how modern Universities operate he said: ‘The way Universities interact with the economy is changing, their role is increasingly diverse. Universities are ideal business partners in many ways. As innovators they are very good, as they are constantly being refreshed by fresh brains and talent. It’s my first visit to the University of Teesside. Looking around, it’s a place with new buildings springing up and lots happening.’
Alastair Thomson, Dean of Teesside Business School said: ‘The work we do at Teesside Business School is widely recognised in the region. But it’s not every day that the Director General of the CBI comes to talk to us. To have Richard Lambert here to help us relaunch the Business School and everything we stand for was a great privilege.’
Richard Lambert was a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee from spring 2003 until spring 2006, when he took up the Director-General post.
The University’s Business School also sponsored the CBI Tees Valley Dinner earlier this week, along with the Royal Bank of Scotland and One NorthEast. The University itself has sponsored the forthcoming North-East Annual Dinner, taking place in the autumn.