For the last few years, I’ve been a judge for the Sustainability category for the North East Automobile Association (NEAA) Annual Awards. As a thank you, I get invited to the awards ceremony, so on Thursday I dusted off the tux, dug out the memory of how to tie a bow tie (first time!), and settled down to watch the proceedings at Ramside Hall while the NEAA team kept my wine glass refreshed.

Keynote speaker North East Mayor Kim McGuinness was indisposed, so the organisers had a gap in the agenda. They filled it by dragging a few notable guests onto the stage for a quick fire interview with our excellent host, former BBC journalist Charlie Charlton. The victims were Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (pictured), Jim Davison, National Membership Director of Make UK, and Phil Witcherley, Economic Director at the North East Combined Authority.

Charlie asked all three of them about the Sustainability agenda, whether about the transition to  EVs or Net Zero. Contrary to the media narrative that Net Zero is in trouble, all three were resolute that Sustainability was the way forward and a huge opportunity not only for the manufacturing sector but growth in general. No equivocations.

In the rest of the event, not only did we have wonderful Sustainability Award winners in the Port of Tyne (I hope to have more on them soon – watch this space!) and SMS Technology, but the overall best SME award winner was AR Power, a solar panel installer who had just signed a deal with Komatsu for a massive array at their Birtley factory.

So I came away further reassured that the narrative coming from the media and certain segments of UK politics is just noise and the Sustainability signal remains strong. Big thanks to the NEAA team for a great night out!